“As bioenvironmental engineers, we are a career field of problem solvers. “We always talk about every Airman a problem solver,” said Huller. The bioenvironmental engineers’ involvement in safely moving COVID-19 patients highlights their flexibility, applying their skillset and foundational knowledge to new and emerging threats. “Because we are skilled in doing health risk assessments, industrial operations, and hygiene plans, we can transition and operate in this arena.” “Aeromedical evacuation is usually not a primary mission for bioenvironmental engineers,” said Huller. He ensured everything on the aircraft was disinfected properly after the mission, and helped the follow-on support team prepare the next mission.Īfter that first mission, AMC deployed 42 bioenvironmental engineer technicians to Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina, in preparation for additional missions across the globe. Xayarath played a key role in the support planning. Somvang Xayarath, Deputy Command Bioenvironmental Engineer with AMC and the bioenvironmental engineer on the first mission. “As part of that Transportation Isolation System support team, we ensured it maintained its integrity, and diagnosed and fixed any issues that arose in flight,” said Maj. Bioenvironmental engineers were on the flight, working alongside aeromedical evacuation crews and critical care air transportation teams. On April 10, the Air Force used the Transportation Isolation System for the first time to move three COVID-19 patients from Afghanistan. “To expand this capability to move more patients, we had to develop plans to project this capability to multiple locations, and come up with procedures to properly disinfect and reuse the TIS.” Vincent Falls, Command Bioenvironmental Engineer, Air Mobility Command. “Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, there were only a handful of people trained on Transportation Isolation System support,” said Col. Michael Huller, AMC Bioenvironmental Engineer functional manager, constructed a disinfection concept of operations and training plan in only ten days in advance of the first mission. The Transportation Isolation System is an infectious disease containment unit that fits inside cargo aircraft and reduces risk to aircrew while allowing for en route medical care.Ī cross functional team led by Master Sgt. The Air Force is using the Transportation Isolation System, which was created in 2014 during the Ebola epidemic, and adapted to move COVID-19 patients. The aeromedical evacuation mission became a top priority as COVID-19 began to spread.īioenvironmental engineers within Air Mobility Command lent their expertise in exposure mitigation when the Air Force was tasked with moving COVID-19 patients. “We can take what we have done for decades to mitigate Airmen exposure.” “Bioenvironmental engineers can take our knowledge of exposure science and apply it to any environmental threat, like COVID-19,” said Peake. Brian Peake, Air Force Bioenvironmental Engineering associate corps chief, says bioenvironmental engineers are using their experience in exposures and risk mitigation to combat the spread of the disease. Personnel must not eat, drink, or smoke within 30 minutes of their fit test.Col. QNFT will be re-accomplished if a new size or type mask is issued, the wearer gains and losses 10 percent or more of body weight following completion of the initial QNFT, or the wearer experiences extensive dental work, facial surgery, scarring, or disfigurement. IAW AFI 48-137, gas mask QNFT is only required once per lifetime, upon arrival at the first permanent duty station or upon assignment to a Unit Type Code. Fit-testing hours are Thursday, 8 to 11 a.m. We also monitors the heat stress condition during the summer months and recommends appropriate work-rest cycles through the installation At-Hoc notification system. We provide quantitative fit testing services for military gas masks and workers requiring respiratory protection within their work areas. We employ these skills in routine surveillance of industrial workplaces and the base drinking water system, and extend those capabilities into the emergency response arena. We offer expertise in the area of occupational, radiological and environmental health.
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