MEDICAL LESSONS LEARNED

File: aaata_36.txt
Page: 36
Total Pages: 36
                                      MEDICAL LESSONS LEARNED
                                        DESERT SHIELD/STORM


         CATEGORY:  Security

         ISSUE/ITEM:

         SUBJECT:    Medical Treatment Facilities Bomb Threat Procedures

         BACKGROUND:    Numerous USAF and MAJCOM regulations  and  JCAH  guidelines  require
         facility evacuation plans be developed for use in facility emergencies.
         Guidance provided is quite general  and  does  not  in  any  way  address  specific
         evacuation policies for medical treatment facilities.

         DISCUSSION:   During the increased THREATCONs imposed during  Desert  Shield/Storm,
         several bomb threats were received against ATC medical  assets,  resulting  in  two
         total facility evacuations at one regional hospital .     Total  evacuation  of  an
         impatient facility is inherently difficult and  potentially  dangerous  in  and  of
         itself.

                        In  investigating  all  available   directives,   through   medical,
         Security Police, Disaster Preparedness, and  safety  channels,  we  could  find  no
         guidance which could clarify and/or authorize a  lesser  response,  i.e.,  building
         search  and/or  partial  evacuation,  as  is  recommended   to   civilian   medical
         facilities.

         ACTION RECOMMENDED:

                        (1).    Clarify  appropriate  building  evacuation   guidelines   for
         military treatment facilities.

                        (2)  Revise AFR 160-25, DDCP, Annex P, requirements, and  all  other
         appropriate documents.

         SUGGESTED OPRs/OCRs:    HQ USAF/SGHR

         SUBMITTER:    [(b)(2)]                                 HQ ATC/SGAX