MEDICAL AFTER-ACTION REPORT FOR DESERT SHIELD/STORM -

File: aabdv_04.txt
Page: 04
Total Pages: 5
(1) Military Medical Support Available: Were able to depend on the
capabilities of our own contingency hospital.
  
(2) Civilian Medical Support Available: Local civilian hospitals offered
special radiology and clinical laboratory capabilities needed but not organic
to our contingency hospital capability.
    
(3) Aeromedical Evacuation Need and Availability: Had to send 27 of 91
(30%) patient admissions out on aeromedical evacuation. There appeared to be
undue delays in movement of patients from our deployment site. It should be
noted, however, that such delays (as long as two weeks) were inconsequential to
patient needs.
    
8. FLIGHT MEDICINE PROGRAM: There were no factors which directly affected or
could have affected aircrew safety or effectivenss.
    
A. Flying Safety: "Go and No-Go" pills and stimulant or sedative drugs were
not prescribed.
    
B. Personnel and Protective Equipment Used: No problems encountered.
    
C. Aircrew Combat Effectiveness: High--there were only 57 DNIF days during
the period of hostilities, 17 Jan - 7 Mar 91. During the period of our medical
operation, 14 Jan - 4 Mar 91, approximately 200 crew members flew over 1200
sorties.
    
D. Medical Training: Primarily through use of handouts, crew members were
instructed on relaxation techniques and how to deal with stress and morale
problems
    
E. Aircrew Personnel Requirements (Including Comments Regarding Aircrew
Conditioning and Transient Billets): None.
    
P. Flying Hours (Hours Flown by Plight Surgeons): Approximately 480 hours.
    
9. OBSERVATIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS: Please see the attached inputs (11) we
provided to the HQ MAC Medical "Hot Wash" Conference of 22-26 April 91. While
not in the exact same format you requested, they do meet your requirements for
the information requested. Additionally, you may want to contact HQ MAC/SO
for more of the observations and recommendations that came out of the
conference.
    
10. COMMANDER SUMMARY: Aside from the information reported above and in the
attached, the 1702nd CH had a number of "firsts." It was the first deployment
and operation of a DEPMEDS in wartime; it was the first known wartime combined
service operation; it was the first multi-MAJCOM contingency hospital in a
wartime theater; it was the first time a DEPMEDS had demonstrated an expansion
capability; and, it was the first deployment of a medical "total force."
Although initially manned and equipped as a convalescent center, we were
ultimately tasked to handle battle casualties. While casualties proved
remarkably few, we were ready if needed--our people were trained, equipped, and
motivated. We supported the aeromedical evacuation system, and our flight