JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- In preparation for the upcoming air show, service members here recently practiced a major accident response exercise, April 10.
The exercise was designed to gauge the joint base’s swift and sure response to a simulated emergency situation. Search and rescue personnel and emergency management from units across the McGuire-Dix side of the installation came together to secure the scene of the simulation and practice providing immediate aid.
With the 2018 Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Power in the Pines open house and airshow less than a month away, safety is a top priority. During the biannual event, the joint base opens its gates to spectators from across the region, flooding the flightline with hundreds of thousands of spectators.
"In the event of a real-world situation, the MARE demonstrated our men and women are capable of a rapid and effective response," said U.S. Air Force Col. Neil Richardson, Joint Base MDL and 87th Air Base Wing commander. "We've proved time and again that we rise to the occasion in an emergency and ensure the safety of our people."
Medics from the 87th Medical Group simulated the transportation of injured people from the scene of the accident as 87th Civil Engineer Squadron firefighters hurriedly extinguished any flames at the exercise site.
“The 87th MDG is responsible for initial triage and stabilization of any patients that are injured during an accident,” said U.S. Air Force Maj. Nicholas Ruppel, 87th MDG flight surgeon. “Our goal is to stabilize patients and if they need to get a higher level of care we transport them off base. That’s part of the reason we have such robust community support.”