UMMC and 14 MDG stand ready during airshow

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Kaleb Snay
  • 14th Flying Training Wing
COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  When it comes to being prepared, no one does it better than the cooperative effort of University of Mississippi Medical Center from Jackson Miss. and the 14th Medical Group during the Wings Over Columbus Open House and Airshow.

The UMMC is the health sciences campus of the University of Mississippi. UMMC is the only academic health science center in the state. UMMC houses the University of Mississippi School of Medicine, University of Mississippi Medical Center School of Dentistry, Nursing, Health Related Professions, Graduate Studies in the Health Sciences and part of the School of Pharmacy.

UMMC is also home to the University Hospital and Clinics, a 722-bed tertiary care facility providing about 27,000 inpatient visits and 418,000 outpatient and emergency visits each year.

"At the Airshow we treated things from minor lacerations to back injuries," said Paula Vital, UMMC Emergency Response Nurse. "If we weren't here I have a feeling that quite a few would have needed an ambulance transport to the hospital."

During the open house the UMMC set up their Mobile Emergency Treatment and Training System to care for injured or ill attendees.

"It's essentially a mobile emergency room that we can set-up within minutes of our arrival and start providing care," said Heath Williams, UMMC Emergency Response Manager. "The entire system is meant to be simple, easy and quick to put together without involving any tools. Anything requiring assembly will either snap, strap or Velcro together. It's all very durable and can even stay standing in 60 mile per hour winds."

The METTS is self-sustaining complete with generators and water systems, medical supplies and equipment and has a total capacity of 150 bed, said Williams. It takes about 20 minutes to set up the trailer, plus 20 minutes per extra tent, which the 14 MDG graciously assisted with.

"They've been a great help to us," said Williams. "The integration with our team and their team has been seamless and it's the best teamwork I've experienced."

A flawless integration brought the medical support through both days of the airshow and has vital in high hopes for the next airshow.

"The medical staff here has been the most helpful group than anywhere I've been," said Vital. "I love providing care, that's why I became a nurse, and I can't wait to come back here again for the next airshow."