Lifesaver 2009 exercise offers preparation for disaster

Published May 13, 2009
By Stephen Pivnick
81st Medical Group Public Affairs

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss; -- Keesler joined with area, state and federal agencies to conduct a successful Lifesaver 2009 exercise, May 5-7.

With an estimated 2,000 participants, this year's major Federal Coordinating Center and National Disaster Medical System exercise was the largest Lifesaver event since May 2005.

Lifesaver 2009 involved six states and more than 1,500 area, state and federal government personnel and first responders plus more than 400 "casualties."

According to Lt. Col. Chris Morgan, Keesler Medical Center's FCC director, the exercise "trained and validated the Region IV NDMS patient reception areas and patient tracking system; created an integrated community response that tested local, state and federal plans; and solidified patient surge capabilities and procedures relating to FCC responsibilities."

Commenting on the exercise results, Colonel Morgan said, "All the participants did extremely well in carrying out their parts of the NDMS plan. The leadership from the state, federal and Department of Defense teams was top notch and knew how to successfully complete their parts of the plan.

"I was pleased to see how seamlessly the patients were transferred between all the participating organizations," Colonel Morgan continued. "Having seen our team in action, I am confident that we are ready and capable to respond to any NDMS event."

Colonel Morgan and FCC coordinator Tech. Sgt Shane Fountain planned Lifesaver 2009 for more than a year, gaining the support of many state and federal partners.

Lifesaver 2009 was based on a simulated terrorist attack involving a chemical weapon and included an anhydrous ammonia spill. The scenario also incorporated simulated terrorist attacks in Pensacola, Fla., Mobile, Ala., and Gulfport, Miss.

To make the exercise succeed and to "practice how you would actually do it," Sergeant Fountain incorporated six 35-member disaster medical assistance teams from Alabama, Georgia, Florida and Arkansas. Harrison and Mobile County emergency management agencies as well as Naval Air Station Pensacola and 20 personnel from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services National Veterinary Response Team also responded to the attacks. In addition, 24 participating NDMS-affiliated hospitals - including Keesler Medical Center - activated their emergency response procedures and plans to handle casualties.

Fifteen members of the 81st Medical Group established the Keesler FCC. Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers in Houston and Little Rock, Ark., received "victims" airlifted to the respective cities.

Participating Mississippi agencies include the Mississippi Department of Health, the University of Mississippi Medical Center, Mississippi Hospital Association, National Nurse Response Team, Department of Veterans Affairs in Biloxi and Health Education and Research Foundation and Mississippi Med-1.

First responders from the Gulfport Fire Department and Acadian Ambulance Service participated in a hazardous material exercise conducted near Gulfport Memorial Hospital. The Red Cross provided snacks and drinks to participants at all locations.
Keesler's FCC is one of 65 nationwide - and one of four in the Air Force -- located in a U.S. metropolitan area responsible for day-to-day coordination of planning and operations in one or more assigned geographic NDMS patient reception areas.

The Keesler FCC area of responsibility stretches from the Louisiana border east to Defuniak Springs, Fla., and north to Hattiesburg. There are 24 NDMS hospitals, including Keesler Medical Center, in this region, with an average bed availability totaling 520 beds broken into medical, critical care, psychiatric and pediatric categories.

Lifesaver 2009 began May 5 with a simulated presidential disaster declaration based on the exercise scenario's train derailment involving toxic material. Once local and state responders were overwhelmed, the NDMS activated the Keesler FCC which alerted its network of 24 hospitals and began planning to aid in evacuating casualties.

Activity increased May 6 with 400 victims transported by bus to participating hospitals where they were processed prior to being taken to patient reception areas established by Keesler Medical Center military patient administration teams and DMATS. Patient reception areas stood up at Keesler, the Gulfport Combat Readiness Training Center, Mobile's Brookley Field and NAS Pensacola. Each PRA processed up to 140 patients.
Two C-130J Hercules aircraft operated by the Air Force Reserve Command's 403rd Airlift Squadron and the 53rd Weather Squadron at Keesler also played a major role in the success of the exercise. The aircraft landed at the Mobile and NAS Pensacola PRAs to allow PRA personnel (both DMAT and Keesler staff) to train on aircraft safety and patient loading and unloading procedures.

May 7, the final day of the exercise, PRA personnel at Gulfport, Keesler, Mobile and Pensacola each processed 100 patients. A total of 60 patients were loaded on two C-130 aircraft, one flew 30 patients to Houston and another flew 30 to Little Rock where they were transferred to the respective VA medical center's PRA. Upon arrival, the VA medical center's DMAT teams and VA personnel processed the patients to test several electronic patient tracking systems.

In addition to Keesler Medical Center and Naval Hospital Pensacola, seven
In addition to the 403rd Wing and 81st MDG, Keesler participants included 81st Training Group students and members of 81st Training Wing staff agencies and the 81st Mission Support Group.

Colonel Morgan said Lifesaver 2009 prepared the foundation for the 2010 and 2011 exercises.