Naval Hospital Jacksonville (its hospital and Branch Health Clinic Jacksonville) plays a vital support role in the NAS Jacksonville Air Show, with medical and emergency management services.

The Navy’s Blue Angels flight demonstration team will be the highlight of this year’s show, which takes place Oct. 27 and 28, with a practice show Oct. 26 for local schools.

Air shows require intricate coordination among multiple agencies.  Preparation for this year’s show began soon after last year’s Sea and Sky Air Show at NAS Jacksonville.

As the National Disaster Medical System federal coordinator for northeast Florida and southeast Georgia, NH Jacksonville coordinates the efforts of about 16 civilian medical facilities to respond to many types of emergencies.

“Quick response and seamless coordination, between NH Jacksonville and our local partners, is critical,” said Dana Shropshire, NH Jacksonville emergency management officer.  “We plan and drill throughout the year.”

NH Jacksonville will operate an on-site flight line medical aid station during the Air Show.  About 135 NH Jacksonville staff (physicians, nurses, hospital corpsmen, and emergency management specialists) will participate over the course of three days.  These personnel can respond to numerous types of medical situations, from minor trips and falls to emergencies.

Many minor injuries can be treated on-site.  Clinical staff will triage and assess, and either treat on-site or transport to a medical facility if needed.

NH Jacksonville and NAS Jacksonville partner to coordinate emergency management operations for the Air Show, including NAS Jacksonville’s security and federal fire departments, civilian counterparts, and additional state and federal security assets.  Coordination supports the availability of resources, such as emergency medical evacuation.

Naval Hospital Jacksonville and Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command Jacksonville deliver quality health care, in an integrated system of readiness and health.  NH Jacksonville includes five branch health clinics across Florida and Georgia.  It serves 163,000 active-duty and retired sailors, Marines, soldiers, airmen, guardsmen, and their families, including 84,000 patients who are enrolled with a primary care manager.  To find out more, visit www.med.navy.mil/sites/navalhospitaljax.

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