571st MSAS trains on vehicle extrication

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Robert Hicks
  • 621st Contingency Response Wing Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  The 571st Mobility Support Advisory Squadron worked with the Team Travis fire department to train on the ability to respond to vehicle accidents and safely extricate an injured person from the vehicle.

The unit deploys to South and Central America where they may not have the comfort of emergency services or rescue capabilities, so it is important they have this training.

"The fire department provided the tools and expertise on how to properly extricate someone from a vehicle while keeping team integrity, the scene safe and how to prioritize a victim by life, limb and eyesight," said Tech. Sgt. Luke Holway, survival, evasion, resistance and escape specialist. "The teams did a great job throughout the training assessing the situation and jumping into action."

Outside of the fire station laid four salvaged vehicles, donated by the auto recycling company, Pick-N-Pull, two of which were placed in a simulated accident configuration, with one vehicle overturned and partially overlapping the other.

Before they started the training the team learned how to assess the situation and determine the number of vehicles, positioning of the vehicles, the number and condition of the patients and the best way to stop traffic to ensure they're safe through the extricate process. Within the assessment they also decide upon the best techniques to use for stabilizing the vehicles and patients as well as which tools and extrication procedures to use.

"We have so many different Air Force specialty codes within our unit who have never participated in this type of training," Holway said. "The one thing we wanted to ensure is that everyone had a chance to get exposed to this type of environment. They need to know this is a realistic possibility and the men and women who are here training today will be the ones downrange with them working to save them if anything happened."

Along with extracting injured bodies from the vehicle, the unit had to perform self-aid and buddy care to the Multiple Amputation Trauma Trainer, which is a tether less remote controlled trauma trainer that delivers high-fidelity simulations of lower-body crash injuries and can also suffer from head trauma, arterial bleeding from the leg, burns, blast trauma, gunshot wounds, head lacerations and other simulated internal injuries.

"The Fire Department and the squadron SERE specialists did a great job tailoring this training to mimic scenarios we might encounter while deployed," said Lt. Col. Margaret Martin 571st MSAS commander. "The ability to practice our skills here, in a controlled environment, gives our Airmen confidence to effectively respond to any challenge on a mission. I'm especially grateful for our partnership with the 60th Air Mobility Wing for making this training possible."

The 571st MSAS is charged with strengthening partner nation capabilities. The Squadron trains, advises, and assists partner nations in developing air mobility capabilities. The Spanish-speaking unit is aligned with United States Southern Command nations. Strengthening the global response network by engaging with international partners develops greater aviation capacity and the ability to provide mutual support during air mobility operations.