Training for success by keeping it real Published March 11, 2013 By Tech. Sgt Barbara Plante 944th Fighter Wing Public Affairs LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. -- Personnel from the 944th Aeromedical Staging and Medical squadrons recently participated in an annual Medical Readiness Mass Causality exercise here. The purpose of the exercise was to evaluate the two unit's emergency response plans and capabilities response to mass causality and natural disaster events. The event also served as a "stop-action" teaching aid for patient triage, movement and Unit Control Center producers. "Once a year we test our capability to respond to civilian and military operational mass casualty emergencies," said Technical Sgt. Kevin Fredenburg, 944th Medical Squadron Health Services Administrator and key planner and coordinator for the exercise. "The training also helps ensure that we are effectively communicating with other unit's." Members of the 356th Civil Air Patrol station here at Luke helped with the training by acting as ill and injured patients. Military members used moulage kits to create mock injuries on the cadets allowing a more credible training for the units. "This gives a more lifelike feel to the exercise, the more real the injuries seem the more authentic we can make this training," said Sgt. Fredenburg. This particular exercise scenario found the two units dealing with multiple medical issues in a short period of time. From illness such as cramping, low grade fevers and diaphoresis to traumatic injuries caused by an explosion. To add to the mayhem simulated record high temperatures in the area also threaten emergency response personnel. According to Senor Master Sgt. Gloria Portillo-Leanos, superintend of health services, 944th Aeromedical Staging Squadron, we do our best to create in-depth scenarios for conducting the exercises to ensure medical personnel are successfully training for potential real world events and to comply with US Air Force and US Air Force Reserve requirements.