Aug. 13, 2012 Welsh 'humbled' to serve as Air Force chief of staff The Air Force chief of staff flag passed to the service's 20th chief in a ceremony here Aug. 10.Gen. Mark A. Welsh III, a 36-year Airman, stepped into the position, taking over for Gen. Norton Schwartz, who also retired from the Air Force during the ceremony."Mark is respected throughout the Air
Aug. 8, 2012 Many missions, one goal: HAWC staff devoted to health Commonly confused as part of the 325th Force Support Squadron or the individuals who run physical training tests, the Health and Wellness Center was established in 1995 as part of each base's medical group.Their mission is to assess health risks of individuals, families and groups of the Tyndall
Aug. 8, 2012 U.S., Botswana open MEDLITE 12 Airmen from units across the U.S. and members of the Botswana defense forces kicked off MEDLITE 12, a two-week aeromedical evacuation exercise, here today.The goal of MEDLITE 12 is to enhance U.S. and Botswana capabilities to work together by introducing the U.S. aeromedical evacuation system of
Aug. 8, 2012 779th Medical Group essential to Vibrant Response 13 The "walking wounded" arrived first to the field hospital set up by the 779th Medical Group. The warbling siren from an ambulance heralded the arrival of patients on litters. The doctors, nurses and medical technicians greeted them with the initial care that could save their lives or at a minimum
Aug. 7, 2012 Bath Salts: Not a way to relax Recently the dangers of "bath salts" have been in the news, though these bath salts are not the kind that promote relaxation, but the ones that destroy lives.According to information on the Drug Enforcement Administration's website, www.dea.gov, synthetic cathinones, better known as "bath salts,"
Aug. 7, 2012 A shot to health A new Air Force policy mandates servicemembers to receive a vaccine for tetanus, diphtheria and acellular pertussis.Tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis can be very serious diseases. Tetanus causes painful muscle spasms and stiffness, usually all over the body. It can lead to tightening of muscles in
Aug. 7, 2012 Make immune system healthy, strong The body's immune system has many jobs including fighting against bacteria, parasites and fungi. It is also essential in keeping the body healthy from infection.The immune system is made up of a network of cells, tissues and organs that together prevent and defend against attacks to the body,
Aug. 7, 2012 AF medical team integral part of mass casualty exercise The "walking wounded," arrived first to the field hospital set up by the 779th Medical Group. The warbling siren from an ambulance heralded the arrival of patients on litters. The doctors, nurses and medical technicians greeted them with the initial care that could save their lives or at a minimum
Aug. 6, 2012 Whooping cough -- early intervention is the key By The death of a 4-week old infant in Enid, Okla., has heightened awareness and concerns about the prevention and treatment of whooping cough.The 71st Medical Group is dedicated to providing beneficiaries with all the tools they may need to protect themselves from this disease.Pertussis, a
Aug. 6, 2012 TRICARE officials report scam The TRICARE Program Integrity office has become aware of a lottery sweepstakes scam where "winners" receive a fraudulent check with the TRICARE name.Targeted individuals are contacted by mail with a letter stating they are winners of a USA lottery sweepstakes accompanied with a fraudulent check for
Aug. 6, 2012 Physical therapy treats Airmen’s aches, pains Everyone has been through something in life where they needed a helping hand to get them back on their feet.Whether it's recovering from a broken bone or surgical procedure, a sprain or strain, runner's knee, sore feet or a bad back -- physical therapy can help.A physical therapist's role is helping
Aug. 3, 2012 NHCC preps for major inspection Naval Health Clinic Charleston is scheduled to undergo a rigorous on-site survey from the Joint Commission between Aug. 7 and Aug. 9, 2012. A team of Joint Commission expert surveyors will evaluate NHCC for compliance with standards of care specific to the needs of patients, including infection
Aug. 3, 2012 DOD, VA release mobile app targeting post-traumatic stress The Defense and Veterans Affairs departments have released a free Apple and Android smartphone mobile application for use with post-traumatic stress disorder treatment.The app is called PE Coach; PE stands for "prolonged exposure."Psychologists at the Defense Department's National Center for
Aug. 3, 2012 Proud to be an American Airman: AF chief of staff reflects on time as service chief, career Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz met with media July 24 in the Pentagon to share his thoughts about his nearly 40 years of military service in the Air Force and four years as the Air Force's senior uniformed leader."When former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates spoke at my Chief of
Aug. 2, 2012 Keesler Airman saves man from drowning A recent family outing turned into a lifesaving event for an 81st Inpatient Operations Squadron member.Airman 1st Class Shaina Buller, a medical technician with the squadron's Surgical Inpatient Unit, was attending an annual family reunion in Helen, Ga. that included tubing down a local river. This
Aug. 1, 2012 Laboratory techs look for clues The human body is a complicated system.Luckily, 354th Medical Support Squadron laboratory technicians are here to help maintain that system, analyzing specimens to gain insight into bodily malfunctions or identify health risks. After seeing a physician, patients that require testing to assist in the
Aug. 1, 2012 Maxwell medics return from Peru Nine members of the 42nd Medical Group recently returned from New Horizons, an ongoing joint humanitarian training exercise in Peru. An annual series of free medical clinics and infrastructure development projects, New Horizons is a U.S. Southern Command-led exercise conducted with Latin American
Aug. 1, 2012 Medical personnel train with 'iStan'--a new life-like training tool The 375th Medical Group hosted training for family practice residents of St. Louis University School of Medicine July 19.The trainees had the opportunity to use iStan, a technologically advanced full-body manikin that provides a near real-life experience."This is a great building tool for teamwork