RAF Medics Demonstrate Life-Saving Skills On Exercise

Tactical Medical Wing from RAF Brize Norton have carried out a quality assurance exercise using their Air Transportable Isolator (ATI), in preparation for real-life deployments.

They practised in a C-17 mock-up to develop their understanding of the procedures to be carried out in a casualty situation involving highly infectious diseases.

The ATI is a high-tech biological containment facility which acts as a contained area to transport people with contagious and virulent diseases.

It allows medics to carry out necessary care without the risk of being contaminated. 

As a nurse at Infection Prevention Control, Flight Sergeant Susan Jenkins said that the ATI is not routinely used, so exercising is essential to ensure the team understands how best to work with it.

Flight Sergeant Jenkins told BFBS Radio: “The assurance exercise proves that we’re able to deliver the ATI capability and it also gives the opportunity for the personnel to work alongside it.

“We’re looking at our processes, making sure that they work or if there’s any room for improvement.

“Teamwork and communication are probably the heart of an ATI mission and without these things in place then the procedures and processes don’t work efficiently.

“Leadership is important and teamwork… so we know what each person’s doing at each stage, because it is so complex.”