Air Force establishes training hub at JB Charleston for COVID-19 aeromedical evacuation

Airmen participating in Transport Isolation System training prepare a mock patient for a training scenario at Joint Base Charleston, S.C., April 4, 2020. The TIS is an infectious disease containment unit designed to minimize risk to aircrew and medical attendants, while allowing in-flight medical care for patients affected by contagions like COVID-19. MEDCREW, a combination of Aeromedical Evacuation flight nurses and technicians, Critical Care Air Transport teams, Infectious Disease specialists and TIS support team members, participated in multi-day training at JB Charleston to focus on patient movement using the TIS. The training involved learning how to don and doff personal protective equipment specific to COVID-19, preparing patients for evacuation, loading and unloading patients from the TIS, and configuring the C-17 Globemaster III for patient movement.