Training focused on handling chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear contamination, with a simulation of a contaminated patient
Air Force Agency: HFASP, by Major Lustosa and Captain Lie
Members of the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) took part in the Aeromedical Evacuation Operational Exercise (MEDVAC) for Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense (CBRN), simulating a contaminated patient. The training took place from 11 to 21 March, at Santos Air Base (BAST), under the coordination of the Health Directorate (DIRSA), and aimed to train the FAB’s health teams and crews.
Six teams were selected, made up of doctors, respiratory physiotherapists, nurses and nursing technicians from the São Paulo Air Force Hospital (HFASP), the Pirassununga Health Group (GSAU-YS) and the Guaratinguetá Health Group (GSAU-GW), as well as crew members from the aircraft involved. Representatives from the Brazilian Navy and a ship from the South-East Naval Patrol Group also took part, demonstrating the capacity and importance of interoperability through decontamination instructions and deck lifting.
The operation consisted of transporting a patient with simulated contamination from BAST to HFASP, using the H-36 Caracal helicopter, a multi-function aircraft with land and water rescue capabilities. At HFASP, the health team was ready to put into practice the knowledge and techniques needed to receive and care for the patient.
The Head of DIRSA’s CBRN Division, Medical Colonel Dalton Muniz Santos, spoke about the training. “It is extremely important that the FAB’s health teams are trained periodically so that, when called upon for real EVAM missions, they are able to carry them out,” he said.
For EVAM in cases of CBRN, there are operational procedures and requirements that must be observed, such as the aircraft with its own characteristics for transportation, the use of personal protective equipment by the team involved appropriate to the type of event, the specific handling of the patient during transportation and care, among others.
During the exercise, two KC-390 Millennium aircraft from the First Squadron of the First Transport Group (1º/1º GT) – Fleet; a C-105 Amazonas and a C-98 Caravan from the First Squadron of the Fifteenth Aviation Group (1º/15º GAV) – Onça Squadron; a C-97 Brasília from the Third Air Transport Squadron (3º ETA) – Pioneiro Squadron; two rotary-wing aircraft, an H-60 Black Hawk from the Second Squadron of the Tenth Aviation Group (2º/10º GAV) – Pelican Squadron and an H-36 Caracal from the Third Squadron of the Eighth Aviation Group (3°/8°GAV) – Puma Squadron.
Throughout the training, BAST received approximately 160 people and flew around 60 hours, confirming the military organization’s support capacity in operational exercises.
Photos: HFASP / BAST *** Translated by DEFCONPress FYI Team ***