Theater Aeromedical Evacuation

File: 970207_aadcu_036.txt
Page: 036
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
       inpatient 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: Terry W. Clarke/Capt/HQ ATC/SGAX
                                      [(b)(2)]