Editor’s Note: The “People First” section is compiled from information from the Air Force Personnel Center, TRICARE, 56th Force Support Squadron, Airman and Family Readiness Flight, Veterans Affairs, the civilian personnel office and armed forces news services. For the complete story, go to the web address listed at the end of the story.
Wartime innovation saves lives at home
In the early morning hours of Feb. 21, a 28-year-old gunshot victim is inside an ambulance en route to University of California Davis Medical Center, the only level I trauma center in Sacramento, California. The patient, receiving cardiopulmonary resuscitation during transport, is fading quickly due to blood loss from multiple gunshot wounds.
After a quick evaluation in the emergency department, doctors determine that the wounded man needs an operation immediately if he’s going to survive.
In the operating room, Lt. Col. (Dr.) Joseph DuBose, a 60th Surgical Operations Squadron vascular and trauma surgeon, notices how quickly the victim is deteriorating.
“We needed to buy some time,” DuBose recalled. “We had to restore blood flow to his critical organs so that we could conduct the operation he needed to survive. At that point in time with what we had available, we were still trying to muster the tools needed to operate on him.
“The REBOA (catheter) was not just an answer; it was the only answer that was capable of saving his life.”
TRICARE offers allergies relief
The weather is finally warming and we can spend more time outdoors. Unfortunately, for some, warm weather brings suffering from seasonal allergies. However, there is hope. TRICARE covers proven services and supplies needed to diagnose and treat allergies.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, allergies are the sixth leading cause of chronic illness in the U.S. with an annual cost in excess of $18 billion. More than 50 million Americans suffer from allergies each year. There are several types of allergic diseases or diseases worsened by allergies, but the most common are:
• Hay fever
• Asthma
• Conjunctivitis (pink eye)
• Allergic skin conditions (hives, eczema, dermatitis)
• Sinusitis (sinus infections)
If you think you have seasonal allergies, talk to your health care provider. Your provider can provide you with tips on how to reduce or eliminate your exposure in addition to explaining the range of possible test and treatment if recommended. They can use skin and blood tests to diagnose you and treatments can include medications or allergy shots.
AFSVA on trend with mystery escape rooms
Master criminal James Moriarty is expecting Sherlock Holmes to walk into his parlor. He’s laid a trap, of course, for the brilliant detective. Unfortunately, you and your companions have arrived instead. Now you have 60 minutes to outsmart Moriarty and escape. The clock is ticking…
Interactive, immersive escape rooms, such as Moriarty’s Parlor, are gaining popularity worldwide as entertainment and team-building experiences. The Air Force Services Activity is offering a choice of six room scenarios to 20 Air Force installations enterprise-wide as part of its Recharge for Resiliency initiative.
“We’re on trend and on time,” said Sandy Hillard, community and leisure branch chief for AFSVA Programs Directorate. “Mystery Escape Room concepts/businesses are popping up across the nation. We are ecstatic to serve our military communities with the opportunity.”
Participants are provided a background story before being placed in a themed room containing puzzles, clues and riddles. A story unfolds as they work together through the room’s challenges, which may include math, science or word puzzles; puzzle boxes; secret codes; or history questions.
90 female missileers, B-52 aircrews make history
Ninety female missileers made Air Force history March 22 as the first all-female missile alert crews to serve on alert at three intercontinental ballistic missile wings simultaneously.
In honor of Women’s History Month, missileers based out of Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota; F.E. Warren AFB, Wyoming; and Malmstrom AFB, Montana, completed a 24-hour alert shift to sustain an active alert status of the nation’s ICBM force.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, women make up almost 51 percent of the nation’s population. Women currently make up 19 percent of the Air Force, the highest percentage of any service.
In addition to female missileers, B-52 Stratofortress aircrews from Minot AFB and Barksdale AFB, Louisiana, participated by fielding all-female flight crews.
Goodwin flew as aircraft commander for one of the B-52s alongside six other women. In total, 14 women whose ranks range from lieutenant to colonel flew in the bomber formation, serving in the roles of pilot, weapons system officer and electronic warfare officer.
