Flight Medicine cares for Airmen

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Janine Thibault
  • 354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  As the home of RED FLAG-Alaska, Eielson has an increased need for flight medicine. The 354th Medical Group Flight Medicine provides medical services to pilots, firefighters and their families. Their patients also include anyone on flying status and other selected individuals.

Flight Medicine monitors flight safety, enhances mission accomplishment, and ensures readiness by providing medical care. Flight Medicine takes care of emergency responders so the mission can continue.

Jobs within Flight Medicine include aerospace medical technicians, health services management, independent duty medical technicians, and flight doctors that work from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

"The mission is very important to us in Flight Medicine," said Senior Airman Kristina Romeo, 354th MDG Flight Medicine health services management. "I love it! It allows me the opportunity to interact with people all day."

The equipment the Airmen work with is fairly standard, however a variety of equipment is used, it just depends what the patient is there for.

"One patient may just need a blood pressure check, but another may be here to have a mole removed, so it really varies day-to-day. They use computer applications, blood pressure cuffs and stethoscopes. Most of our tasks involve the use of a computer," said Tech. Sgt. John G. Howard, 354th Medical Group Flight Medicine Flight NCO in-charge.

A major part of this career field involves incidents with aircraft. It is the task of aerospace medicine flight to ensure everyone involved, from pilots to first responders, gets checked and are healthy in case of an accident.

"The biggest moment that stands out in my memory during my Flight Medicine career would be an aircraft accident three years ago," said Sergeant Howard. "I had to respond to the remote location on a helicopter with medical supplies. My job for this accident was to take care of the responders that were securing the area of the crash, making sure that if someone twisted their ankle or cut themselves on a piece of wreckage, they would get the care they needed."

In Flight Medicine there are opportunities to see different aspects of the job. This is beneficial to Airmen that are hungry to learn more about the career field.

"I get to work alongside of doctors and technicians and even receive a little bit of hands on experience," said Airman Romeo. "Since I want to be a nurse this is one of the best positions I could ask for. Health services also gives me the chance to understand how a clinic runs and the administrative side."

Getting Airmen the appointments they need is critical to the mission. Flight Medicine cares for the health of Airmen so they can confidently be sent out to do their jobs.