Kirkland, WA
February 3, 2011
2/3/2011 - KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- The 81st Medical Group has a new mobile tool at its disposal to support a variety of disaster field response mission requirements.
The "BLU-MED" system consists of a 28-foot trailer and tents that can be erected almost anywhere to support National Disaster Medical System Federal Coordinating Center patient reception area operations, serve as an alternate medical facility, provide isolation capabilities and offer contingency expansion requirements.
"This system is compatible with the Federal Emergency Management Agency Disaster Medical Assistance Teams, National Guard units, National Fire Department and Veterans Affairs disaster response tent assemblages," according to Robert Tash, 81st Medical Support Squadron readiness flight NDMS FCC emergency management area coordinator. "It meets the requirement to have an equipment package to support Keesler's FCC patient reception area mission."
To aid setup operations, a newly-established 14-member cadre team of medical group personnel was trained Jan. 19 as setup facilitators supporting three separate medical missions: air show medical support, emergency room expansion and NDMS FCC patient reception area requirements. Mr. Tash noted the newly-trained team will assist annual setup training exercises to maintain proficiency with the system.
Mr. Tash added, "BLU-MED can be used to help meet existing FCC PRA mission requirements and strengthen the 81st Training Wing's overall homeland defense posture. It will enable the 81st MDG patient reception area team to deploy rapidly to a pre-designated airfield and establish patient reception activities in support of FEMA NDMS operations and training."
The cadre team set up the system in a 24-bed configuration in an area behind the hospital's emergency department. Homero Elizondo, a representative of Alaska Structures, BLU-MED manufacturer, instructed the team how to assemble the two large tents plus a third, smaller shelter using a train-the-trainer approach.
The trailer included in the package serves as a command and control communications center and is used for storing the tents and generators when the system is not in use. Assembly included installing power, lights, environmental control units, setting up two generators and putting together the 24 contingency beds.
The initial effort took four hours, but Mr. Tash expects the setup time to be reduced to two to three hours as the team receives additional training. In addition to powering the facility, the two generators can accommodate and power most medical equipment required in a disaster.
Ultimately the system will help save lives, Mr. Tash pointed out.
"Previously, Keesler's FCC patient reception area operations were completely reliant upon outside civilian agency support, such as the DMATs," he explained. This 'mobile' assemblage now enables the medical group to deploy autonomously and rapidly the minimum essential equipment to meet its mission."
"FEMA DMAT medical teams, National Guard units and Veterans Affairs use their specific equipment for FCC PRA activities and patient care," Mr. Tash continued. "Mission requirements dictate that 81st MDG patient reception area equipment seamlessly integrate with other responding agencies to ensure maximum interoperability with minimum set-up time. This equipment provides that seamless integration capability and allows for multi-purpose assistance from routine patient care to FCC contingency operations. The equipment can be set up in a hangar, at an airfield or most remote areas."
He mentioned the BLU-MED manufacturer also provides expeditionary medical support tent packages to the Air Force which makes the Keesler system compatible with EMEDS. It also is adaptable for use with similar equipment from a different manufacturer employed by other area medical emergency responders.
Article and photo by Steve Pivnick, 81st Medical Group Public Affairs
BLU-MED facilities can be sized and customized to meet a variety of state and local emergency management and public health needs, with modular options including medical surge wards, patient treatment, decontamination, immunization/drug distribution, negative pressure isolation, and field laboratory units. BLU-MED Response Systems is a division of Alaska Structures, Inc. For more information see www.Blu-Med.com
Alaska Structures (AKS) designs, engineers and delivers the highest quality fabric building systems for extreme environments. Since it was founded in 1975, over 50,000 AKS shelters have been tested and proven in over 50 countries around the world, including more than 30,000 Alaska Military Shelters and 13,000 Alaska Environmental Control Units in Afghanistan and Iraq. For more information see www.AlaskaStructures.com
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