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An EMS Response to Refugees Arriving at an International Airport: A Report From the Field

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 November 2023

C. Crawford Mechem ,
Tabitha L. Boyle ,
Michael A. Simmons ,
Martin W. McCall  and
Maura Sammon
C. Crawford Mechem*
Affiliation:
University of Pennsylvania Health System - Emergency Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA Philadelphia Fire Department - Division of EMS, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Tabitha L. Boyle
Affiliation:
Philadelphia Fire Department - Division of EMS, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Michael A. Simmons
Affiliation:
Philadelphia Fire Department - Division of EMS, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Martin W. McCall
Affiliation:
Philadelphia Fire Department - Division of EMS, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Maura Sammon
Affiliation:
Temple University Health System, Philadelphia, PA, USA
*
Corresponding author: C. Crawford Mechem; Email: mechemc@uphs.upenn.edu.
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Abstract

Following Afghanistan’s fall in August 2021, many refugees were settled in the United States as part of Operation Allies Welcome. They were flown from Kabul to the Middle East and Europe before continuing to the U.S. By late September Philadelphia was the sole destination. From there refugees were transported to Safe Haven military bases around the country. Philadelphia International Airport became the site of a months-long operation involving city, state, federal, and private agencies engaged in processing, medical screening, and COVID-testing of arriving refugees. The Philadelphia Fire Department played an integral role. Minor medical conditions were treated onsite. Higher acuity patients were transported to nearby hospitals. The goal was to maintain flow of refugees to their next destination while addressing acute medical issues. Between August 28, 2021, and March 1, 2022, the airport processed 29,713 refugees. Philadelphia’s experience may serve as a guide for planning future such refugee operations.

Keywords

emergency medical servicesAfghanistanrefugeesairports
Type
Report from the Field
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 17 , 2023 , e539
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2023. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc

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