Keesler medics deploy to support Harvey relief efforts

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Ryan Crane
  • 81st Training Wing Public Affairs
Five medical Airmen from here deployed to Texas, Aug. 30 to support Hurricane Harvey relief efforts.

A Critical Care Air Transport Team and a medical logistics team from the 81st Medical Group are part of the Air Force’s aeromedical evacuation system. The CCAT team typically consists of physicians specializing in areas such as critical care, emergency medicine, anesthesiology, surgery, and cardio pulmonology.

“Our medical support personnel are trained to respond to humanitarian relief efforts like this one,” said Maj. Jerry Thompson, 81st Medical Support Squadron readiness officer. “It is very rewarding to see their hard work and sacrifices pay off to save lives and help people who were put in harm’s way.”

The teams’ primary mission while deployed to Texas is to operate a flying hospital picking up patients in Houston who require advanced medical care and transporting them to a higher echelon of care.

The teams will join the nearly 1,000 strong active duty, 3,500 National Guard and 3,000 Texas Guard called on to provide assistance following the historic flooding in Texas.

Teams from Joint Base San Antonio, Texas, and Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma, are also supporting the military response.