Exercise, Exercise; Bio-attack on base Published April 5, 2007 By Airman 1st Class Ashley Coomes 319th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- If a biological attack occurred on base during the brutally cold winter months, the fitness center pool could become the alternate decontamination site. The 319th Medical Group practiced using the facility for the first time during an exercise March 31. The primary decontamination site is a tent set up outside the ambulance garage of the Medical Group clinic. Medics, dressed in protective plastic suits, practiced decontaminating patients before they sent them to be treated. In this process, medics took precautions by being cognizant of the patient's injuries, according to 1st Lt. Jeffrey McClellan, 319 MDG. During decontamination procedures, medics must carefully remove contaminated clothing, then, using a chemical and water mixture, sponge the mixture onto the patient. The final step is to re-dress the patient in clean clothing and provide medical treatment. "We must retain a team of 28 members -- training on equipment and understanding operations in a contaminated environment is critical," said Lieutenant McClellan. "All Air Force bases are transitioning to the new Air Force Incident Management System and the Medical Group wants to be the first out the door to exercise the new concepts and ideas." "This new capability will help the wing in first responder readiness," he added. "We will be able to provide decontamination to the base community rain or shine - or in negative temperatures."