Gustav and Ike put crimp in Lifesaver exercise

Published Sept. 17, 2008
By Steve Pivnick
81st Medical Group Public Affais

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE MISS. -- Hurricanes Gustav and Ike put a crimp in the planned agenda for Lifesaver 2008 conducted Sept. 10-11 at Keesler Medical Center and Mobile's Brookley Field.

The exercise began with a simulated train derailment involving hazardous material in Alabama. This was followed by simulated local, state and National Guard response as well as federal assistance requested by the state of Alabama.

In addition, the Sept. 10 events included a Federal Coordinating Center bed-reporting exercise. Keesler Medical Center established an FCC to work with area hospitals, partners in the National Disaster Medical System, to arrange with them to account for available patient beds. Keesler Medical Center is one of seven Air Force FCCs among 63 in the Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs systems.

Early the next day, two military patient administration teams left the medical center for Brookley Field where they would direct patient distribution to four Mobile hospitals.

Meanwhile, activity within Keesler Medical Center increased considerably as the exercise scenario added a suspected outbreak of spinal meningitis at the child development center. The "outbreak" sparked anxiety and a civil disturbance just outside the emergency department and within the facility. Security team members quickly quelled the disturbance and restrained several perpetrators, some of whom required treatment.

The 81st Medical Group was directed to activate facility expansion from 77 to 126 beds. This involved physically reconfiguring two administrative areas into patient rooms.

The exercise ended at 1 p.m. Other medical facilities participating were Mobile's Uni-versity of South Alabama Children's and Women's Hospital, USA Medical Center, Mobile Infirmary Hospital, Infirmary West Hospital, Thomas Regional Hospital and Providence Hospital. Members of the Alabama Disaster Medical Assistance Team were involved at the Brookley Field patient reception area.

Lt. Col. Chris Morgan, 81st Medical Support Squadron medical readiness flight commander, said planning is already under way for Lifesaver 2009, tentatively scheduled for May.