Oregon Guard Conducts Mass Casualty Exercise with Helicopter Medevac

Soldiers will respond in chemical protective gear in order to triage and evacuate casualties.

The Oregon National Guard Blackhawk helicopter, shown here during operations in Afghanistan, will take part in the exercise Photo by: Tim King

(MCMINNVILLE, Ore.) - The Oregon Army National Guard will conduct a mass casualty exercise today at the airport in McMinnville.

National Guard Spokesman Capt. Mike Braibish says the exercise, which begins around 4:00 PM, will test the response of C Co., 7th Battalion, 158th Aviation, formerly the 1042nd Air Ambulance Medical Company.

This is the Air Ambulance unit of the Oregon Army National Guard that supports first responders around the state in dozens of searches and rescue operations each year.

During the exercise, which will last about an ninety minutes, the soldiers will respond to a simulated release of chorine gas that has affected several people.

Soldiers will respond in chemical protective gear in order to triage and evacuate casualties.

Additional operations will include a hoist rescue operation where a flight medic is lowered from a hovering helicopter into the hazard area. The medic then stabilizes the victim who is then loaded onto the helicopter using the hoist and transported to the nearest medical center for treatment. Exercises such as this ensure the Oregon National Guard is prepared to respond to crisis situations at home or national missions abroad.

Salem-News.com's Tim King will be aboard the Blackhawk, watch for his video news report later.