Mobilization

File: aaabf_10.txt
Page: 10
Total Pages: 51

identification of available specialty backup. CENTAF was slow in making this information available.
Emergency response varied by location. At many Bites, the response team was jointly staffed. SME's had to rely on
vehicles of opportunity, either ambulances provided by the supporting ATH or rental vehicles provided by the host nation. Since
there were no designated supply packages many SME vehicles were capable of nothing but simple patient transport.
Communications problems required creative solutions. Some SME's were
given Sable or Foxmike radios with or without base stations. Others acquired
cellular phones or beepers. Although the ATC Concept of Operations requires
SME's have communication with Base Survival Recovery Center, Emergency
response teams, the supporting ATH and aerevacuation source, and casualty
collection points, there was no system in place to guarantee this capability.
Medics were often given low priority by Comrn Squadrons. Message traffic was
only moderately reliable. Even when collocated, communication with the
supporting ATH was not always dependable.

PATIENT CARE

SME's typically reported a predominance of gastroenteritis visits early in the deployment which was later superseded by URI's.
For supporting locations outside the theater, gastroenteritis was not among the top two DNIF complaints. The most commonly
seen non-battle injury was lacerations; second most common was back or ankle strain.

In theater:
Most common DNIF complaint: URI (all locations ex. Riyadh)
Second: Gastroenteritis (all locations exc. Sharjah)
Most common NBI: lacerations
Second: back or ankle sprain
Supporting operating locations:
Most common DNIF complaint: URI
Second: Bronchitis
Most common NBI: lacerations
Second: ankle strain

At one location, conflicts arose over whether or not to do flight physicals. ATC's are not equipped for that purpose, but local
resources were used.
Nearly all flight surgeons saw patients with significant medical problems
such as insulin dependent diabetes and chronic pancreatitis, which were beyond
the capabilities of the ATC to care for them. These patients should never have
been deployed. Many thought this problem was more common among the Air
Reserve Component (ARC) personnel. At least one location also had civilian contractors who presented unique medical demands.
There were few backup medical facilities, except for host nation, available in theater the first 30 days. With the exception of the
complicated patient who should not have deployed, the SME's strongly felt the disadvantages of deploying medical records
outweighed the advantages. A complete SF 1480 should suffice in most cases and the most recent SF 88 could provide such other
useful information as blood type, spectacle