SOTO CANO AIR BASE, HONDURAS –
In March of this year, the U.S. Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute partnered with medical personnel, first responders, the Honduran Red Cross and the Honduran Permanent Contingency Commission or COPECO, for a three-day training course called the Medical Effects of Ionizing Radiation at Soto Cano Air Base.
This month, the team of experts were invited to return to teach the MEIR course again, this time it was concluded with a base-wide exercise.
U.S. Army Captain Yessenia Acosta, a physician assistant and the Officer in Charge of the medical aspects of the exercise facilitated both the course and the exercise and worked in conjunction with the MEIR team to include radiological components.
Emergency response units including the fire department, military police and medical professionals were put to the test. Each unit’s ability to respond to a simulated explosion was assessed.
For more information about the importance of the Medical Effects of Ionizing Radiation courses: https://www.dvidshub.net/news/416966/afrri-provides-radiation-effects-course-jtfb-copeco-soto-cano-ab