Team Seymour conducts confined space rescue exercise

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Wendy Lopedote
  • 916th Public Affairs
SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. --  Air Force Reserve Citizen Airmen assigned to the 916th Air Refueling Wing Fuel System Repair Shop, working in conjunction with members of the 916th Safety Office and the 4th Fighter Wing Civil Engineer Fire Department, ran their annual confined space rescue exercise here, March 11.

This type of exercise is important not just for fuel systems personnel but also for the fire department. Performing a rescue in confined spaces located inside a wing fuel tank is a dangerous job with a number of challenges that include protecting yourself and your team from hazardous fumes and entrapment, said Master Sgt. Gary Tumminia, 916th Maintenance Squadron Fuel Systems section chief.

"While incidents are very rare, they have the potential to be deadly if not carried out with great care," he said. "This training prepares our airmen on how to properly use respirators and other safety equipment while engaging in a rescue mission."

The exercise began as Aircraft Fuel Systems journeymen, Staff Sgt. Chris Ryan and Senior Airman Richard Cruz, responded to a possible injured co-worker inside an aircraft fuel tank.

Donning personal protective equipment and respirator, Ryan climbed into a mock KC-135R fuel tank to attempt to rescue the victim, a training dummy which weighed close to 165 pounds.

Finding the victim unresponsive and unable to be moved, Ryan and Cruz took action to keep the victim safe while waiting for emergency crews to arrive.

Fire department personnel performed the extraction, pulling the training dummy out of the fuel tank through a small access door underneath the aircraft's wing and then loaded it onto a litter for emergency transport from the site.

Tech Sgt. Dale Floyd, Aircraft Fuel Systems craftsman, commented that this year's exercise was conducted more expeditiously than in past years.

"The more you practice as a team, the better you get," said Floyd.

Mr. Eric Harper, 4th Civil Engineer Squadron Fire Emergency Services, performs this type of training across Seymour Johnson and has great confidence in those he has trained.

"Those guys (fuels personnel) are really good at what they do and we are too," said Harper. "We know we could handle any emergency like this because of our training and our strong team mentality."

Every fuel shop in the Air Force must conduct this exercise annually to prepare for a number of scenarios to include rescuing a fellow airman who might become injured while working on the aircraft fuel system in the wing. Responders must also be able to safely access and maneuver on and inside the aircraft wings.

"Keeping our people safe is my number one priority," said Col. Gregory Gilmour, 916th ARW commander. "The results of this annual training demonstrated our commitment to excellence in everything we do."