AMC Airmen continue aeromedical evacuation relief in Haiti

Published Jan. 25, 2010
By 2nd Lt. Anastasia Wasem
6th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- After flying two missions in less than three days, a Critical Care Air Transport Team flew on a third mission as part of Air Mobility Command's aeromedical evacuation mission to Haiti on Jan. 23 and 24.

The three-member CCATT, assigned to the 88th Medical Group at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is currently based out of MacDill AFB in support of Operation Unified Response.

"A CCATT usually consists of a doctor, an ICU nurse and a respiratory therapist," said Senior Airman Brooke Lohr, 88th Medical Group CCATT respiratory therapist. She explained that a CCATT is responsible for the medical treatment of critically ill or injured patients, while airborne, that require immediate evacuation to a hospital.

Originally having been told there would be two critical patients in Haiti, upon arrival it was determined that three were critical. Under the care of Maj. John Lynch, 88th MG CCATT cardiologist, Capt. Jeff Marsh, 88th MG CCATT intensive care unit nurse and Airman Lohr, the three patients were safely transported to the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, Fla. and taken by ambulance to local hospitals.

To make these life-saving flights possible, CCATT relies on air support to transport patients. A C-130 from Dyess AFB, Texas with six aircrew members was used to transport the patients for this flight. For Senior Airman Matt Roberts, 317th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, this was only his second aeromedical evacuation mission.

"It's nice to help out and feel like I'm doing something," said Airman Roberts. "The people we pick up are very appreciative."