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."