WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio – The emergency crash phone rings, and a public affairs officer picks it up. The PA office expects all types of calls about inclement weather, emergencies that are happening on base, and sometimes there are calls about mutual aid support for the surrounding community.
One recent call concerning mutual aid requested Wright-Patterson’s Emergency Medical Service bike team to assist in finding an endangered missing adult with Alzheimer’s.
“In 2010, four firefighters wanted to start an EMS Bike Team here in the fire department,” said Assistant Fire Chief, Kevin Lairson. “Those founders were myself, Capt. Timothy Howells, Capt. Clark Deringer and Capt. Adam Megnin.”
They received their first bikes in 2011 just in time for their debut run at the Freedom’s Call Tattoo, “Our bike team didn’t rest at all that day,” Lairson said. During the event, it was apparent to the department leadership this type of team is invaluable, responding to several calls for medical assistance, lost persons with the fastest response times. The now 15-member bike team’s bikes are equipped with advanced medical equipment, lights and sirens, they can ride up to 30 miles at a time.
The bike team has a very important mission; rapidly navigate crowds, terrain that prohibits vehicles (stairs, bike trails) to respond to medical emergencies, missing persons or for calls for assistance at events or for mutual aid calls. The team has supported many events on base, to include: VIP visits, Air Force Marathon, Air Force Museum events like WWII Dawn Patrol, Memphis Belle unveiling and numerous mutual aid requests. It has supported the surrounding communities under the mutual aid agreement for events and those communities support Wright Patterson AFB during the Air Force Marathon events.
During the last Air Force Marathon, the bike team played a critical role in saving the life of a runner who collapsed in cardiac arrest. We were able to get to the patient quickly, provide relief to bystanders doing CPR and provide an immediate shock with our AED. Then medical gator team arrived, followed by other responders. The patient was saved, fully returned to a normal life and will soon throw out the first pitch at a Dayton Dragons game, that will honor him and the first responders that saved his life.
The most recent response was a mutual aid request for the City of Springfield in Clark County, for a missing endangered adult female. “Our Team along with Clark County Sheriff’s Office was assigned to an area to searching, the Deputy made first contact with the lost person on their ATVs,” said Lairson. “Then our team went into the wooded area to render medical care, while our Medical Gator was utilized to transport the missing person out to an awaiting ambulance. It was a quick and successful operation.”
“When responding to emergencies, the bike teams key efficiency is they have the ability to maneuver through the crowds, proving invaluable when searching for lost kids, parents and medical emergencies,” he said.
If a call comes in requesting help with a search, the Incident Commander will help determine where the search will take place, then assigning the team a “grid” and they search that grid in detail, ensuring they do not overlook where the missing person might be. “Looking for the missing person is a small part of their duties, because we are a fully equipped with all pertinent life-saving equipment to include an AED if needed,” Lairson said.
“Our two mobile units, a Gator and Tactical Response Unit can transport patients to the nearest a medical tent at a particular event or an ambulance to transport to a hospital and even to a medical helicopter depending on the severity of the patient.” Their team has only been called out on a few missing people’s cases outside of the base, other than at an event.
This specialized team requires all members to be trained and certified before than can participate. They must take and pass the International Police Mountain Bike Association (IPMBA) course. Their main function and purpose is to cover base-sponsored events on and off base. “This course is a very intense class, and it teaches bike maneuverability on all terrains and around crowds,” he said. “It also teaches how to control your bike in any situation, and once certified we are required to pass evaluation and training standards to stay certified.” Working closely with the Five Rivers Metro Parks Police Bike Team we have gained training and certification as Instructors for IPMBA, therefor allowing us to provide certification and training to our members and Security Forces Bike Team.