Zombie apocalypse takes over Tyndall?

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Christopher Reel
  • 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Sirens blared as emergency response teams rushed to the scene to find mutilated victims lying on the ground. Their wounds so graphic, perhaps if one did not know it was an exercise, one would think the wounds were real.

Members of the 325th Medical Group add zombie-like effects to acting "victims" during monthly base exercises.

Staff Sgt. Sabrina Robertson, 325th Aeromedical-Dental Squadron noncommissioned officer in charge of the clinical element, provides a graphic effect to the exercise scenarios by molding extensive wounds onto Airmen acting as victims.

"The moulage team does more than apply 'fake wounds' (which they do very well), they prepare the victim role players with the symptoms and vital signs related to those injuries," said Frank Labroad, 325th Fighter Wing chief of exercise plans. "The response is more fluid and natural if injuries are visible and role players are knowledgeable on how to portray appropriate symptoms...responders don't have to guess."

Almost all of the wounds can be made from ingredients found around the house such as, petroleum jelly, honey, dish soap, cornstarch, makeup, and food coloring. The moulage team uses these ingredients to make lacerations, road rash, burns, and other creative injuries.

"Exercises with realistic effects provide the opportunity to train for emergencies we hope will never happen," said Labroad. "They hone and refine execution of mission essential and supporting tasks, validate training, improve response capabilities, and enhance and evaluate readiness."

Properly prepared role players help bring out the sense of urgency in responders, which also aides in training, explained Labroad.

"Moulage provides a realistic training experience to first responders and assists evaluators in making the scenario come to life," said Senior Airman Mariana Hopper, 325th Medical Operations Squadron ambulance services department, who transports and provides care to acting victims during the exercise and sometimes even portrays a victim with wounds.

"We practice for the real scenario," said Robertson. "We add realistic wounds to the acting victims so those who may deploy and have never witnessed the real thing, will have already visually experienced the trauma.

"Acting medical personnel, security forces, or whomever may be directly involved with the scenario, will get to see victims with graphic but fake wounds," added Robertson. "This is extremely beneficial because many people playing in the exercises have never seen the real thing."

Exercises provide opportunities to validate training effectiveness and provides opportunities to make changes where needed with minimal risk to personnel and property. Tyndall generally holds one exercise per month and scenarios vary.