Photo By 2nd Lt. Enjoli Saunders | U.S. Air Force Airman Robert DuFour (left), a cyber transport systems technician...... read more read more
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Middle River, Md. - Just like Noah's Ark was filled to capacity during the flood, Maryland Airmen have utilized just about every usable space of a Strategic National Stockpile warehouse processing and distributing medical equipment and supplies during the state's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is some of their smallest items passing through the warehouse that they hope will have a huge impact.
Since being activated in March, Airmen from the 175th Logistics Readiness Squadron and other units in the Maryland Air National Guard, have successfully shipped more than 50 million medical personal protective equipment items and supplies, delivered more than 350 ventilators, and transported more than a half million COVID-19 test kits for hospitals and skilled nursing facilities across Maryland. During some of their busiest times of the mission aptly named Operation Ark, they received shipments of a first-round trial of a COVID-19 medication in vials that need to stay cold.
“Last week the warehouse hit 102 percent capacity,” said U.S. Air Force Capt. Jamie Plakosh, the Small Air Terminal flight commander, 175th LRS. “We have been incredibly busy but the medical community needs these supplies and this medication too.”
In early May, the MDANG began to distribute, Remdesivir, a drug used to treat the Ebola virus. Maryland was preferentially selected out of a limited number of states to test out the logistics and transport of the medication.
“Researchers and medical professionals realized that the COVID-19 virus behaved similar to Ebola," said Plakosh. "The medication is meant to go into an individual’s system and prevent the disease from replicating, providing the body time to defend itself.”
Medical researchers hope the drug will lead to faster recovery times in those that have already been diagnosed. The medication is given intravenously and if the patient is intubated, they receive a double dose on the first day. Studies show that patients are improving rapidly enough to be removed from intubation within seven or eight days after receiving the medication.
Airmen assisted with the preparation and delivery of over 4,500 vials of Ramdesiver to local hospitals in all 24 Maryland counties while still maintaining cold chain temperature integrity. They continue to work closely with the Maryland Department of Health, the Maryland Department of Preparedness and Response in addition to other federal partners to regularly move hundreds of pallets of other medical supplies and equipment to those who need it.
“All of the Airmen assigned have performed flawlessly and have been dedicated to receive and ship out the equipment to ensure our local health care providers are protected and that the citizens of Maryland can recover from this virus quickly,” said Plakosh, who managed the warehouse team of more than 20 for past few months.
These Airmen live in the counties they support and still face the same day-to-day challenges and responsibilities as the residents in the communities they are supporting. Airman Robert DuFour, a cyber transport systems technician assigned to the 275th Cyber Operations Squadron, Maryland Air National Guard, volunteered to be on the warehouse mission because his father has underlying health conditions like respiratory issues and low mobility.
“What motivates me to come in early every day is knowing that these medical supplies could one day help if something were to happen to him, as well as other people experiencing the exact same situations in their families," said DuFour. "This opportunity was a welcomed surprise because I’m getting all this new experience and getting to do something that matters.”
| Date Taken: | 05.21.2020 |
| Date Posted: | 05.29.2020 17:53 |
| Story ID: | 370974 |
| Location: | MD, US |
| Web Views: | 149 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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