Air Force Disaster Response: Haiti Experience

After the devastating earthquake in Haiti, the United States Air Force deployed multiple medical units as part of the disaster response. Air Force Special Operations Command medical teams provided initial medical response and assisted in the organization of medical assets. A small portable expeditionary aeromedical rapid response team with the assistance of a mobile aeromedical staging facility team stabilized patients for flight and coordinated air evacuation to the United States. An expeditionary medical support hospital was set up and assisted in patient movement to and from the USNS Comfort hospital ship. These units were able to adapt to the unique circumstances in Haiti and provide great patient care. The lessons learned from these experiences may help the United States better respond to future disasters. (Journal of Surgical Orthopaedic Advances 20(1):62–66, 2011)