Realisitic training prepares maintainers for the worst

SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany – Staff Sgt. Joseph Fichett, a munitions inspector with the 52nd Equipment Maintenance Squadron, treats the simulated injuries of Master Sgt. Gary Kimball, 52nd Fighter wing, Aug. 20, 2008. Both Airmen were taking part in an exercise to help EMS Airmen prepare for accidents. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Logan Tuttle)

Realisitic training prepares maintainers for the worst

SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany – Staff Sgts. Joseph Fichett and Elbert Jenkins, munitions inspectors with the 52nd Equipment Maintenance Squadron, help carry Airman First Class Matthew Briseno, 52nd Medical Support Squadron, onto an ambulance after treating simulated injuries Aug. 20, 2008. All of them were taking part in an exercise to help EMS Airmen prepare for accidents. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Logan Tuttle)

Realistic training prepares maintainers for the worst

Published Aug. 25, 2008
By Staff Sgt. Logan Tuttle
52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs

SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany -- As part of the base's recent exercise Phase 1, Spangdahlem Airmen assigned to the 52nd Equipment Maintenance Squadron took part in a simulated vehicle accident to help them learn how to provide first aid to injured victims, as well as work around hazards in the area.

The simulated victims for the exercise were Master Sgt Gary Kimball, 52nd Fighter Wing, Senior Airman Christina Anderson, 52nd Operations Support Squadron, and Airman 1st Class Matthew Briseno, 52nd Medical Support Squadron.

"It feels pretty good to help," Sergeant Kimball said. "It gets you out of the daily rut, and this training is really useful. You never know when something like this might really happen, and these are human beings we're training to help."

With simulated injuries covering burns, broken bones and even breathing problems, they were placed in a vehicle and an alarm sounded for 52nd EMS Airmen to take action. The EMS Airmen involved said even though the realistic acting added some stress, it also made it very easy for them to determine each of the victim's injuries.

"When we were taking care of the victims, none of us thought we would remember the information from the Airman's Manual, but found that it became instinctual, and we worked as a team to help them," said Staff Sgt. Elbert Jenkins, a munitions inspector with the 52nd EMS who was involved with the scenario.