Photo By Staff Sgt. Adeline Witherspoon | U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Zachary Collins, a decontamination specialist with the Washington...... read more read more
JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash.—Events like the partial meltdown at Three Mile Island Nuclear Generating Station and the Exxon Valdez oil spill have cast a long shadow. There is an increasingly recognized concern that civilian and military responders may have to care for patients injured or contaminated by hazardous materials.
In anticipation of that possibility, decontamination subject matter experts with the Washington National Guard’s 10th Homeland Response Force administered a two-day hazardous material familiarization course to active-duty Soldiers with the 153rd Medical Detachment (Blood Support), 56th Multifunctional Medical Battalion, 62nd Medical Brigade, on Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Sept. 22-23, 2022.
Army Staff Sgt. Zachary Collins, Sgt. Joy Potter, and Spc. Saul Ruelas taught chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear incident basics, protective equipment familiarization, and hazardous material monitoring. Students completed a practical exercise in chemical protective gear, using Joint Chemical Agent Detectors (JCAD M4A1) to identify possible hazards.
“We were teaching a crash course in CBRN-world basics,” said Collins, the lead instructor. “How the equipment works; what it does; and how to use it to safely conduct triage during a radiological event.”
Collins, Potter, and Ruelas are part of the Decontamination Element (DECON), a subordinate asset within the 10th Homeland Response Force, specializing in mass casualty decontamination. Within 2 1/2 hours, DECON can unload and erect decontamination facilities, and begin receiving patients.
“It’s better to be trained by someone with technical experience, instead of just [reading] a training manual,” said Cpl. Alberto Contreras-Velarde, the 153rd MDBS supply sergeant. “You can’t ask a TM questions.”
Like the DECON element, the 153rd MDBS is designed to be ‘detached’ from the larger parent unit, operating independently as needed to provide blood collection and banking capabilities, which render life-saving treatments for blood-borne illnesses, critical support during emergencies, and more. The detachment has the capabilities to set up for a blood drive at any given time, anywhere. It takes the unit less than two hours to set up a tent, with capabilities to hold about 20 donors.
“This [training] isn’t just for our lab techs,” said Maj. Paul Ambrose, commander of the 153rd MDBS. “Our supply specialists and mechanics are training as well, making sure the medical equipment works and our detachment is ready for any situation.”
‘Any situation' includes the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic, where specialty detachments—like the 153rd MDBS and elements from 10th Homeland Response Force—provided critical skills to support relief efforts. During the pandemic response, ten Soldiers with the 153rd MDBS were deployed to the FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies Facility in College Station, Texas, to assist industry partners in the production of COVID-19 vaccines. Back in Washington state, elements of the 10th Homeland Response Force—as part of the Washington National Guard’s COVID-19 response task force—provided support to food banks, testing facilities, and eventually vaccine distribution. Joint training between active duty and reserve forces means a stronger and more effective response.
“We’re focused on enhancing our medical skills in this new environment,” Ambrose says. “More peer competitors means confidence in our equipment is key.”
| Date Taken: | 09.23.2022 |
| Date Posted: | 10.11.2022 16:28 |
| Story ID: | 431084 |
| Location: | JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, WA, US |
| Web Views: | 88 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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