U.S. Air Force in Europe Public Affairs

Story by Capt. Toni Tones

By Capt. Toni Tones
455 Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan - Members from the 210th Expeditionary Rescue Squadron were credited with helping save a 5-year-old local national boy's life after being struck by a vehicle near Jalalabad Airfield, Afghanistan Feb. 2.

The squadron received the request from the Combined Joint Task Force-82 Personnel Recovery Coordination Cell to medevac the young boy who was diagnosed as being in stable condition with a broken left patella and possible skull fracture. They immediately contacted the Combined Air and Space Operations Center Joint Personnel Recovery Center, who put together information about the airlift requirements and received approval from the CAOC Battlecab to launch the assets in support of this mission. Within a few minutes, Air Force HH-60G helicopters were en route to their location.

Maj. Eric Lipp, JPRC director at the CAOC, said coordinating with the CAOC Battlecab is one of their primary functions when units request air assets for medical evacuation missions.

"The JPRC team syncronized with the Battlecab and 210th to authorize immediate launch to get the boy the medical attention he needed," said Major Lipp. "We work with our joint and combined counterparts every day to ensure we not only take care of our wounded Airmen and brothers in arms, but also the civilians who need our assistance. Combat Search and Rescue is all about saving lives, and our men and women out in the field will do everything in their power to do just that."

The weather was briefed as a visibility of two to three miles. However, once enroute, the weather was marginal but within helicopter standards. The squadron's home station is Kulis Air National Guard Base, Alaska. Mission pilot Capt Matthew Calabro added, since we're from Alaska we are used to flying in inclement weather.

As the crew headed to the location, they were informed that the patient's father was being rushed to be with the son and would escort him on the helicopter back to Bagram's Craig Joint Theater Hospital.

After nearly an hour flight, the team arrived and immediately assessed the patient's status and prepared him for the return trip, only to realize his diagnosis was worse than briefed.

"He had two fractured legs, fluid seeping from the ears and nose which indicated skull trauma, multiple signs of bodily trauma, a scalp laceration that had been stitched, and he was on a ventilator," said Tech Sgt. Brandon Stuemke, 210 ERQS pararescueman.

"The little guy was in pretty bad shape and needed a CAT scan, which is why he was being medevac to Bagram. We don't know who got him to Jalalabad, but the Army medical team did a great job stabilizing him."

As the helicopters departed about 40 minutes later, Stuemke and Staff Sgt. Leovan Claunan, another pararescueman on the crew, continued to administer medical care and worked to keep the patient sedated and alive.

"We kept his airway suctioned and monitored his blood pressure, pulse and ventilation," said Stuemke. "We constantly relayed his vitals to our flight surgeon in the squadron operations center who provided treatment options during the return flight."

When it was all said and done, the patient had bilateral temporal fracture, left femur fracture, right lower leg avulsion and a fractured pelvis, according to Stuemke. He also underwent abdominal surgery to remove a lacerated spleen.

From the first call to the patient's delivery at Bagram took a little over two hours.

"I'm proud of the accomplishments of the combat search and rescue crew," said Lt. Col. Timothy O'Brien, 210 ERQS commander. "I know this child would not have survived if not for the efforts of the medical personnel at Jalalabad Airfield, our pararescuemen, aircrew and the hospital personnel at Bagram."

Steumke visits the patient daily to see how he's progressing.

"He's on track, but only time will tell. It would be pretty incredible if he makes a full recovery...I know we're pulling for him."

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