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Rapid Deployment Force Teams PHS 1 and PHS 2 Attend Training
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PHS 1 RDF team members attended training on Medical Response to Radiation Emergencies
at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, April 24-27.
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PHS 2 RDF team members attended training on Medical Response to Radiation Emergencies
at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, April 24-27.
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Nearly 150 members of Rapid Deployment Force (RDF) teams PHS 1 and PHS 2 attended a 4-day training on Medical Response to Radiation Emergencies at the Walter Reed
Army Institute of Research, April 24-27, 2007. The course was presented by the Armed
Forces Radiobiological Research Institute (AFRRI), and coordinated by the Office
of Force Readiness and Deployment and several Command staff from PHS 1 and PHS 2.
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AFRRI conducted two and a half days of didactic presentation addressing a full range
of principles and issues related to radiological and nuclear threats and the medical
management of radiological casualties. A half day was dedicated to a table-top exercise
in which PHS 1 and PHS 2 each ‘responded’ to a potential radiation event. The training
course also included presentations on response capabilities from the Department
of Defense’s Northern Command (NORTHCOM), the Department of Health and Human Services’
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, and the National
Medical Response Team – National Capital Region.
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Day four of the course was conducted by AFRRI, the U.S. Army Radiological Advance
Medical Team, a National Guard Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Team (32nd
CST from Fort Meade, MD), the Walter Reed Fire Department, the Montgomery County
Fire Department (HAZMAT Team), and the American Red Cross. These groups discussed
their roles and capabilities as responders, and their evolving relationships with
response groups of the Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service. The
course concluded with an outdoor decontamination exercise during which several PHS
1 RDF and PHS 2 RDF team members braved 50 degree [F] waters while going through
DECON by the Montgomery County HAZMAT Team.
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From early on Day 1 of the course it was clear how valuable this training was to
RDF preparation for radiation-related events and response preparation in general.
Attendees were engaged and interactive throughout, and highly impressed by the knowledgeable
AFRRI presenters.
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PHS 1 and PHS 2 thank all involved in the delivery of this valuable training.
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