Members of the 386ECSS AME team transferring patients to the East Timor Aid Ambulance Service.

One of the most important roles of the RAAF's 386 Expeditionary Combat Support Squadron (ECSS) Detachment based out of Comoro Airfield in Dili is to provide Aeromedical Evacuation (AME) support for both military and civilian personnel in East Timor.

386ECSS Aeromedical Staging Facility (ASF) has two AME teams enabling 24-hour emergency response. Each team consists of a doctor, nurse and medical assistant.

Since arriving in Timor in December 2000, 386ECSS ASF has participated in over 70 AMEs involving over 100 patients. AME assistance has been provided to a wide spectrum of patients including those suffering from gunshot and machete wounds, vehicle accidents, head injuries and crocodile attacks and labour obstructions. Patients have been retrieved from all over the country at all times of the day and night, and transported to a variety of locations on either rotary or fixed wing aircraft. Depending on the severity of the illness, patients are transported to either the civilian or UN military hospital in Dili, to Australian hospitals or hospitals in other countries.

RAAF Doctor FLTLT Steven Fredriksen and Medical Assistant SGT Haydn Cohen, both from RAAF Base Edinburgh explained 'the ASF role has allowed all medical staff here to build up a valuable AME experience base and through our experiences we have gained great confidence in clinical procedures. Additionally, there is a great sense of achievement and satisfaction in being able to help the local East Timorese people and peacekeepers from around the world.'

In addition to AME support, ASF has been providing a Level 1 medical facility and first aid training to the other members of 386ECSS and Airfield Emergency Response. ASF also has an Environmental Health specialist available to assist maintain field hygiene and combat mosquito borne illnesses such as malaria and dengue fever.

386ECSS ASF staff is OIC ASF Squadron Leader Kathleen Pyne CAMU, Wing Commander John Newlands AVMED, Flight Lieutenant Steven Fredriksen AHS-SA (HSF EDN), Flight Lieutenant David Wilkinson AHS-WA (HSF PEA), Warrant Officer Larry Bedggood DHSB, Sergeant Haydn Cohen AHS-SA (HSF EDN) and Sergeant Eddie Trevor AHS-V (HSF ESL).

By FLTLT Shane Hellmann