Lackland medical team headed for Calif. fires

[unhappycamper]

Lackland medical team headed for Calif. fires
Staff report
Posted : Wednesday Oct 24, 2007 19:58:55 EDT

The Air Force is sending an aeromedical evacuation team from Wilford Hall Medical Center at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, to the southern California region affected by devastating wildfires, the 59th Medical Wing announced Wednesday.

The three-member team — known as a critical care air transport team — was expected to depart for California by Thursday, according to a Wilford Hall press release.

The fires have burned about 410,000 acres, or 640 square miles, near San Diego and Los Angeles, the Associated Press reported. They have destroyed 1,500 homes and caused at least a half-million people to flee, according to the AP.

The CCAT team consists of a critical care physician, critical care nurse and respiratory therapist. The team’s mission is to operate an intensive care unit in an aircraft cabin during flight.

“Our people are trained to provide CCATT support for battlefield injuries, and this same expertise is available to provide disaster relief in situations like the one in California,” Maj. Gen. (Dr.) Thomas Travis, 59th Medical Wing commander, said in a statement. “This is what we are trained to do, and we are ready to help.”


Rest of article at: http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2007/10/airforce_medevac_fires_071024w/