After the recent experiences carried out in collaboration with the other reference hospital on the whole national territory, ie the research and treatment institute for infectious diseases "Lazzaro Spallanzani" of Rome, it is therefore the northern area of the peninsula that is this once affected by this new exercise in the field of air transport and management of highly infectious patients, according to a scenario that saw the warning of the military aeronautical bio-containment team, on Wednesday 12 November, for two cases of highly infectious disease with request for air transport "in parallel" of both patients on board the KC-767 ° aircraft of the 14 ° Stormo of Pratica di Mare.
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First practice activity also for the KC-767A therefore used on the "Pratica di Mare-Milano Malpensa" section, the latter where the patients were transferred, from the aerial isolation systems, to the terrestrial isolation systems, for the following dispatch to the dedicated facility of the Milan hospital.
Instead, a specialized training activity was held on Thursday, organized by the health directorate of the "L. Sacco" university campus hospital in Milan, which saw civilian healthcare professionals interact on issues concerning the transmission of highly contagious diseases, the characteristics of highly infectious patient isolation devices and related use procedures, on the use of personal protective equipment and on the relevant dressing, undressing and decontamination procedures.
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A very intense "two days", so full of connotations and salient meanings, such as the "first" military aeronautical exercise with the "Luigi Sacco" university center in Milan, the "first" air transport in "absolute bio-containment" for the KC-767A and finally, the "first" experience of aerial transport "in parallel" of two patients, these circumstances which, in synergy, further increase and develop the specific capacity, excellence of the military air force at the service of the citizen.
The general inspector Piervalerio Manfroni, head of the military aeronautical health service, pointed out that "this type of activity is a niche of excellence in military aeronautics, which is able to carry out transports of this kind with adequate means and qualified personnel and constantly trained. Another example of the ability of military aircraft to offer a highly qualified and specialized service to the country ".
Manfroni also added that "the operational use of the KC767 aircraft is faster and can cover longer distances, unlike the C-130 which, however, allows us to land anywhere, even on makeshift runways. This operational capacity is currently the property of few nations in the world and in Italy it is exclusive to military aeronautics ".
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The transport systems that the military aviation employs on "long stretch" consist of 2 stretchers of the "ATI" type (Aircraft Transport Isolator), and as many "STI" (Stretcher Transit Isolator) to which are added other systems "N- 36 ", similar to ATI stretchers but certified for use on short distances and also on AB 212 and AW 139 helicopters; these devices are all located at the air base in Pratica di Mare, where the "Medical Protection Group" of the main air force infirmary consists of specialists and specialized nursing personnel, qualified to be deployed on board aircraft to air transport in "absolute bio-containment.
Source: AM Public Information Office - magg. Davide Tortora
