Keesler conducts disease containment exercise Published March 12, 2014 By Steve Pivnick 81st Medical Group Public Affairs KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- An exercise conducted here Feb. 27, tested the 81st Training Wing's Disease Containment Plan for mass prophylaxis point of distribution capability. The scenario included a steep rise in the number of patients with flu-like symptoms and the medical group distributing large quantities of influenza medications and vaccinations. Approximately 150 "Dragon Medics" actively participated in processing "patients" and issuing "medication" during the event. The POD staff was able to process a total of 343 "patients." "During the exercise, all the teams worked together and helped each other to set-up the POD site and prepare it to receive patients," explained Lt. Col. Winnie Lok-Park, 81st Diagnostics and Therapeutics Squadron Pharmacy Flight commander and POD manager. "The (15) teams communicated well with each other. Although we met all the objectives, we were not able to test the ability to process the required 500 patients per hour due to lack of role players." "Overall, we felt the exercise went well. Due to the cooperation and flexibility of each POD team member, the exercise went smoothly without any major issues," she added. "I am confident the team is ready to perform the mission to prophylaxis and treat our beneficiaries in case of a disease outbreak or chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear event." "We had 50-60 volunteer patients," said Maj. Dawn Higgins, 81st Medical Support Squadron Medical Readiness Flight Medical Emergency. "Many of them went through the process several times while some did so once or twice." manager, added, Volunteer "patients" came from various 81st TRW units and the medical group and included several family members.