Keesler medic travels to Egypt to revise publication Published Dec. 2, 2009 By Steve Pivnick 81st Medical Group Public Affairs KEESLER AFB, MS -- Lt. Col. Brian Casleton, 81st Aerospace Medicine Squadron commander, served on an international team of volunteers tasked by the World Health Organization to revise a publication in Cairo last month. According to Colonel Casleton, the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office asked the nine-member group to update a 1994 edition of "Health Lab-oratory Facilities in Emergency and Disaster Situations." The team traveled to Cairo to finalize the changes. The colonel was selected for the team based on his knowledge and background in transfusion medicine and blood-donor collection operations. "The team consisted of members from New Zealand, Australia, Sweden, Norway, Canada, Germany and the U.S.," Colonel Casleton explained. "The publication is designed to provide insight into what might be needed as a laboratory response to a variety of disaster situations in the region. The book is based on modules that can be tailored to meet situations ranging from malaria to cholera outbreaks to basic chemistry, hematology analysis to emergency blood collection and transfusion. "This particular region covers a wide spectrum of possibilities as it encompasses Africa and the Middle East. The book is designed as a guide to aide other non-government organizations in what might be a typical laboratory response to a wide range of emergency situations. It also goes into detail about water and power considerations in disaster response in the region. The colonel noted the most interesting aspect of the trip, other than the culture and the topic, was the group dynamics. "This event brought together nine people who had previously only communicated by e-mail. It was a textbook lesson in group dynamics. Over the course of the week, it was interesting to watch the stages of 'forming, storming, norming, conforming and performing.' Team members initially were tentative about voicing opinions, but by the end of the week no one hesitated to present an opinion or idea. Ultimately the leader felt that the team produced a quality revision. In fact, the WHO has decided to expedite a Web-based version with the published text to follow."