374 MDG personnel hold CASF exercise

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Katrina R. Menchaca
  • 374th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan --  Airmen from the 374th Medical Group participated in a Contingency Aeromedical Staging Facility (CASF) exercise here Jan. 18-19.

During the two-day exercise, medical personnel trained on how to process patients who require aeromedical evacuation during a time of crisis.

"It's important to be trained and qualified in this skill because if we are ever to be deployed we have to know what we are doing, since people's lives may depend on it," said Airman 1st Class Angeli Olivas, 374th MDG medical technician.

Col. Julie Stola, 374 MDG senior nurse, explained the importance of the training. "Being able to airlift patients out of Yokota is going to be key in getting the patients to a hospital that can provide them with the care they need."

The training focused on how to properly fill out a patient movement record--the paperwork needed during a medical transport, the set-up and tear down of the CASF and participants learned how to load patients on and off of an ambus, a C-130 Hercules and a helicopter.

"Loading and unloading patients in the C-130 was really fun," said Airman Olivas. "To know that I can do that and that I will be qualified to do that in the future is very empowering."

The CASF is housed here at Yokota, the training was designed to make sure that if it was ever needed, the CASF could be set-up and activated to quickly move patients through Yokota.

"It's really important to know this information in case something happens, like a typhoon or earthquake in Tokyo. We've got to be ready to do that kind of stuff, and now we're trained on what to do if a situation arises and a CASF is established," said Airman 1st Class Tan Nguyen, 374th MDG medical technician.

Airmen and their families can take comfort, knowing that Yokota's medical personal aren't just waiting for the unexpected. Instead, they're preparing to confront such situations head on.