Volunteer Docs, Nurses, Staff Assist With Every Malady

by ANN Correspondent Annette Kurman

With over 7,000 guests, volunteers, sponsors, and media congregated on a 1,400-acre site for a week, access to medical services during AirVenture 2006 plays an important role to those who may need to pay a visit the Dr. Jewel Huebner Medical First Aid Building, located west of the FAA tower at Wittman Field.

"My job is to salvage vacations that might have been interrupted by illness," said co-chair Dr. Buck Wagmon. "People," he laughed, "will leave for Oshkosh ill, knowing that the can come to us for treatment."

Registered nurse Mary Jeanne Trosky, now in her third year as chair, has been a volunteer since 1982. The first year she came to see the planes with her airline pilot husband. "For someone non aviation, it was redundant the next year, so I started volunteering."

Relying 100% on donations from clients, the medical building had originally been a trailer when EAA's aviation convention moved to Oshkosh. It eventually moved to a permanent structure in the 1990s, where a staff of three physicians, scads of registered nurses, and other volunteers can evaluate and treat as many patients as necessary over the course of the week. Although it has no diagnostic or lab equipment, the medical center offers pharmacy services twice daily.

Set up as a first aid station, the staff treats such woes as blisters, sunburn, dehydration, sunburn, heat stroke, allergies, sunburn, fevers, and headaches. (RNs disperse analgesic medication on the building's porch)  "Weather, Wagmon added, "has a lot to do with how many patients we see."

The more significant problems -- like severe trauma, myocardial infarction (heart attack), broken bones, hypertension, and lacerations -- are transported to Mercy Hospital, either by ambulance or by long time volunteer Len Mirkes, if they are of the non-urgent variety.

Wagmon has been dispensing treatment and advice at the world's greatest GA event since 1963 and is responsible for donating much of the center's medical equipment and pharmaceuticals. His volunteer physicians, who hail from all parts of the nation, have seen up to 100 patients a day. During an extraordinarily hot day, the auxiliary tent can cool down 40-50 people, while others recover from the heat inside in a large air-conditioned room.

"It's like a family practice," he noted. "They are such great people and so grateful; it's so much fun to be able to help out." There's a certain amount of satisfaction, he added, in knowing the staff has salvaged a vacation and people can enjoy the rest of their time at AirVenture.

An unsung hero of the Oshkosh's medical facility is Len Mirkes, who was originally "volunteered" by his wife while she was a volunteer and then co-chair, some 22 years ago. A resident of Oshkosh, he checks on things year-round and was even responsible for building an additional room onto the building. "Len is a Godsend," according to everyone you ask.

The medical center is open from 8 am to 7 pm. After hours, first aid is available at Camp Scholler, or people can call security for a trip to the hospital.

Although Oshkosh veterans know the routine, it doesn't hurt to hear it again. "Use sunscreen (don't get it in your eyes; can lead to conjunctivitis), wear a wide brimmed hat, maintain good hydration (water, Gatorade, juices), no caffeinated drinks, wear flat shoes (ladies), and stay cool."

FMI: www.airventure.org