Defensa.com stands out celebration of the Symposium “Medical Support in Operations of XXI Century: Developments, Challenges and Solutions“, organized by the Office of Health Operation (JESANOP) of the Defense Staff (EMAD) on January 23 and 24 at the facilities of the Navy Logistic Support Headquarters (JAL).
The Symposium sought to realize a “state of the art” of the new materials and technologies available for the Military Health in the areas of assistance of sanitary casualties with unmanned devices, health assistance to migratory movements, sanitary support in an urban environment, assistance to drop-outs by agents with high biological risk (CBRN), health support in hybrid conflicts and experience in Medical Treatment Facilities (MTFs) deployable in Africa and South America.
The opening of the Symposium was held by the Army General, Chief of the Defense Staff (JEMAD), Hon. Mr. General of the Army Mr. Fernando Alejandre Martínez, in which he highlighted the challenges facing the Military Health in the current context, and the necessary search for solutions for healthcare operations in the 21st century.
The Symposium was divided into 4 round tables: (1) Products, Materials and Models of Care Management in Foreign Operations, (2) Unmanned Devices for Healthcare, (3) Challenges in Health Assistance to Migratory Movements, International Operations and Humanitarian Aid and (4) Aspects of Health before Cyber Threats.
As it stands out Defensa.com, Hispano Vema was selected to make a presentation under the title of “Management of CBRN Casualties in Medical Treatment Facilities (MTFs)”, due to its international experience in the development of turnkey and modular solutions of Field Hospitals and CBRN decontamination systems and solutions.
During the presentation, Rafael Arruga (Director of Business Development of Hispano Vema), presented several Hispano Vema success cases of CBRN decontamination systems for deployable Medical Treatment Facilities (MTFs). Divided in two main categories: Decontamination in situ (CBRN Decontamination Systems for Rapid Deployment) and Decontamination prior to access to the Hospital (Mass Decontamination Stations and COLPRO collective protection systems).
The protocols for the decontamination of injured and contaminated people are based on the STANAG 2228 AJP 4.10B Allied Joint Medical Support Doctrine, which establishes four basic principles: (1) reduce the risk of contamination of medical personnel and other patients, (2) performed as soon as patient stabilization allows, (3) it must be decentralized to avoid creating delays at a centralized point and (4) each MTF must have its own decontamination area.
The concern about how to mitigate the consequences of a Hazmat incident in the context of the Military Medical Support, was expressed both in opening congress intervention of JEMAD and in the interventions of the Inspector General of Health of Defense (IGESAN), Hon. Mr. General Mr. Santiago Coca Menchero and the General Chief of the Headquarters of Operative Health (JESANOP), Hon. Mr. General Mr. José María Alonso de Vega.
This demonstrates and corroborates the interest and willingness of the Spanish Army in the search for solutions that allow it to increase and optimize its CBRN capabilities in order to provide an effective response to Hazmat incidents (attacks or accidents) with biological, radiological and chemical agents (TICs or CWAs).
As Defensa.com points out, “this concern becomes more relevant in the face of growing terrorist threats with chemical, biological or radiological agents, especially in the critical infrastructures environment (decontamination of electronic equipment and sensitive material) and attacks that directly affect the population (decontamination of people) “.
Precisely this last concern for the decontamination of people, and how to equip themselves with CBRN capabilities to save lives and mitigate the effects of a Hazmat incident, was widely analyzed during the Symposium organized by the Defense Staff (EMAD) through its Head of Operational Health (JESANOP).
