Bioenvironmental Flight trains for sharp response

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- Left, Airman 1st Class Daniel Salas Dominguez, Senior Airman Tyler Haugland and Airman 1st Class Tim Burnett, all 375th Aerospace Medicine Squadron Bioenvironmental Flight technicians, walk away from a simulated chlorine and ethanol spill to evaluate their findings after taking samples during an in-house exercise June 10. The exercise was put on by the flight to give technicians keep technicians familiar with their equipment and procedures. (U.S. Air Force photo by Hannah Hill)

Bioenvironmental Flight trains for sharp response

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- Airman 1st Class Tyler Haugland, Aerospace Medicine Squadron Bioenvironmental Flight technician, takes samples from a simulated chlorine and ethanol spill during an in-house exercise June 10. The exercise was put on by the flight to give technicians keep technicians familiar with their equipment and procedures. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Samantha S. Crane)

Bioenvironmental Flight trains for sharp response

Published June 17, 2010
By Senior Airman Samantha S. Crane
375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- Three Airmen approach a rail car cautiously, decked out in blue suits and brandishing chemical detection gear to identify the spill collecting around the tracks. They collect their samples quickly and efficiently and then move a safe distance away to decontaminate their equipment and suits before analyzing their results. Those results will help brief the incident commander on the safety and stability of the spill.

While this scenario was simulated during an in-house exercise, it helped prepare bioenvironmental technicians from the 375th Aerospace Medicine Squadron for real-world incidents they may respond to in the future.

"As emergency responders, we use field training to build and maintain proficiency so that we're ready to respond to an emergency or contingency operation when called upon," said 1st Lt. David Johnson, 375th AMDS Bioenvironmental Engineering Flight chief of occupational and environmental health.

The exercise June 10 required the responders to don their Level A chemical protection suits to measure the toxic atmosphere surrounding the tipped rail car.

"We also practiced defining health effects of the chemicals involved, possible reactions if the chemicals were mixed and the appropriate level of personal protective equipment that responders should wear," said Lieutenant Johnson. "All of our efforts are aimed at providing recommendations to the incident commander to support the management of the incident."

Each month, Airmen from the shop research and design a training scenario to test the other members' ability to respond correctly.

"Good training is absolutely essential to being able to effectively respond as a flight to an emergency, whether it's real-world or an exercise," said the lieutenant.
And the Airmen who were tested agree.

"Exercises like this help me gain experience and confidence in the equipment we wear and use," said Airman 1st Class Timothy Burnett, 375th AMDS BEF technician. "I'm also able to become more familiar with the procedures that are needed to complete the mission, so if a real-life event did occur, it would be completed quickly and efficiently."