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‘Incredibles’ respond to injuries across AOR

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Cassandra Locke
  • 379th Air Expeditionary Wing
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  A 379th Expeditionary Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron Critical Care Transport Team (CCATT) responded to two Soldiers who were critically injured by a vehicle borne improvised explosive device July 9. 

The CCATT accompanies the 379th EAES on missions to care for patients throughout the AOR and provides a higher level of care required to transport patients. 

The team that responded is known as the "Incredibles." The "Incredibles" are the first team from Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, to deploy a second time as the same team.
The team picked the burn patients up at Balad Air Base, Iraq, on a C-130, tail-swapped to a C-17 aircraft and headed to Germany to get the patients further care. 

CCATT provides care for critically injured patients with multiple invasive monitoring systems who usually need the assistance of a breathing device and need the constant monitoring of a critical care physician to make and change orders. 

"Unfortunately, there are situations in which a person has sustained irreversible and lethal traumatic injuries, and our job is to get them to Germany so family can be by their side," said Staff Sgt Kristina Vensel, 379th EAES CCATT. 

According to Capt. Shaun Westphal, 379th EAES CCATT, out of all the patients the team responds to, burn victims require the most care. The Soldiers required 11 hours of constant monitoring. The two Soldiers' fluids had to be adequately maintained. Burn 
patients dehydrate easily and need to be rehydrated, but they can't be overhydrated. 

"You set yourself up for the worst case scenario and hope for the best," said Capt. Westphal. "The job is complex because you never know how sick that patient is going to be." 

The CCATT sees the most critical medical situations in the world and one of the most challenging aspects is when responding to servicemembers who are injured by IEDs. Those attacked by IEDs typically have a combination of injuries including burns, limbs needing amputation and complicated breathing from what is inhaled as a result of the IED exploding. 

"One of our saving graces is that the patients are young and healthy before injured," said Maj. Jimmy Lau, 379th EAES CCATT. "Fortunately, these Soldiers did well on the flight," said Major Lau. 

Adrenaline, caffeine and supporting each other as a team allow the CCATT to function at the top of their game. The teamwork implemented by the CCATT makes it possible to give the patients the care they need en route to their destination. 

"We could be in the middle of anything when alerted (to a medevac mission)," said Capt. Westphal. 

The team has about 10 to 15 minutes to get on an aircraft once alerted. Their gear, weapons and intelligence briefings are brought to them on the flightline. 

According to Major Lau, each CCATT team is unique in its makeup and their camaraderie is phenomenal. He said Sergeant Vensel should have separated from the Air Force by now, but when she found she would be working with the "Incredibles" she extended her Air Force time to deploy with them. 

The team was deployed to Balad in 2005 where they responded to 23 missions. At the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing, the "Incredibles" have responded to eight missions. 

"The most rewarding part of the job is providing the best care en route to a hospital or facility that has more resources to treat the person's injuries or illness," said Sergeant Vensel, 379th EAES. 

The CCATT supports the 379th EAES with their patient's medication, physician orders and patient emergencies. The missions of the two teams are different, but functionally support each other. 

"It's nice to know at the end of the day you did something incredible," said Captain Westphal. 

The 379th EAES team that accompanied the CCATT was Capt. Leon Kehrer, Flight Nurse, Staff Sgt. Christine Hill, Aeromedical Evacuation Technician and Senior Airmen Aubrie Miskell, Aeromedical Evacuation Technician. 

The flight crew that made this possible was Capt. Nancy Badgett, pilot, 1st Lt. Phil Domke, co-pilot, 1st Lt. Angela Stephens, navigator, Chief Master Sgt. Sean Flannery, flight engineer, Senior Airman Briani Beebe, loadmaster and Airman 1st Class Sheldon Cary, loadmaster.