433rd AES plays important role in natural disaster exercise

  • Published
  • 433rd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
The 433rd Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron took part in a joint emergency response exercise simulating a tornado strike Nov. 9 at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. Aeromedical evacuation technicians escorted littered patients off of a C-130 Hercules aircraft into awaiting ambulances. The exercise allowed the South Texas Regional Advisory Council to meet its annual requirement to test its ability to evacuate patients with regional Emergency Medical Service departments. STRAC is designated by the Texas Department of State Health Services to provide regional trauma and emergency healthcare services to residents in southwest Texas, covering more than 26,000 square miles.

The exercise graded the ambulance services to ensure they were capable of transporting patients during a natural disaster. They were graded on off-loading speed and their ability to properly categorize each patient as they were loaded into ambulances.

“We want to make sure we know where we fit in when responding to a natural disaster,” said Tech. Sgt. Stephen Constantin, 433rd Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron aeromedical evacuation technician. “We want to make sure we have everything ready to go so that we aren’t the ones slowing down the process, and that way we can evacuate as many patients as possible in the most efficient manner.”