Team field training was held on April 16 to 18, 1999.  This training covered field, medical and logistics ellements.  A field camp was to be erected with two overnights experienced.
   The major changes to the plan were necessitated by weather this weekend in Dayton.   With a severe tornado having passed through the Cincinnati area the previous week, safety was foremost in the minds of the team leadership.  Forecasts for Friday included wind gusts that afternoon of 20-25 mph.  Forecasts for that evening were for 40-45 mph winds.  Either situation called for the cancellation of the erection of tents on Friday.

Instead, an alternate plan established with Jim of the VAMC was implemented, and the teams were housed in Building 410, which is an abandoned wing of the VAMC.  Some quick sprucing up of the area and erection of cots provided the teams with a safe, warm alternative for the weekend exercise.  Likewise, the disaster exercise planned for Saturday afternoon was moved in-doors; something our team had never drilled before.  Moving paper patients up stairs, down halls and around furniture, gave a realistic effect to the modified exercise.

   At last count, close to 45 were in attendance Friday evening as events unfolded.  This included special guest from the KY-1 and OH-6 DMATs.  About 12 rooms on the wing were needed for sleeping quarters for the group while the rest was used for storage and drill activities.
    The dining room was under an outdoor open pavillion while the cooks made use of the Dayton, VA cold-pack food system to prepare food on the teams new multifuel stoves set up in the back of our truck trailer.  Logistics personnel did a fine job of preparing food for the participants during cool and windy conditions.
   Communications set up a radio operations room that included VHF, UHF, Cellular and Satellite systems.  Ham, NDMS and commercial frequencies were used and included special modes such as APRS.  Communications personnel also provided security for the wing while members were off site for training classes.  The UHF and VHF hand-held radios did not adequately transmit signals back to our base station due to building obstructions and the low level of our base antenna.

   Educational segements were put together by the training committee and were sponsored by Grandview Hospital.  18.9 CEU credits was granted through the Ohio Nurses Association and will also apply as EMS CEU for the weekend.    Click here to see a Draft Copy of the Schedule.
  Although helicopter saftey lectures had been planned with the participation of the Ohio National Guard, this too had been modified by weather conditions.  ONG aircraft were grounded by high winds and could not participate as were our backup group, the Miami Valley Hospital CareFlight, MVHCF.  Bill and past CareFlight nurse Debbie presented the lecture with the assistance of printed handouts provided by MVHCF.
  Recruiting and maintaining active physicians on the team has been a challenge in the past.  We were especially pleased that three team physicians participated in the entire exercise this weekend, and that a fourth physician spent all day Saturday with us.  In all, five local physicians were active in this exercise.
  Much credit for a successful weekend training session is to be extended to Debbie and Brian who lead out in the planning for the weekend.
  Thanks also to those who presented lectures and to the logistics team who made things work in the kitchen, without whom, we would have all gone hungry.