Base-wide quarterly exercise begins Aug. 4 Published July 30, 2014 By Will Huntington 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- The base will conduct its third quarter exercises, Aug. 4 through 8, and neighboring community residents may notice increased emergency vehicle activity and traffic congestion around the gates, as well as emergency sirens and public address announcements. Wright-Patterson Air Force Base employees and visitors may experience temporary gate delays and traffic re-routing, as base personnel respond to simulated events around the installation, during exercises designed to hone response skills and prepare them for the emergency situations. Officials may activate the base's "giant voice" for auditory messages; use telephone and electronic notification methods; and temporarily block roads "The increasing number of situations across the country that require emergency responses make these kinds of exercises even more important" stated Myra Fincher, the 88th Inspector General Director of Inspections. This exercise will include a Phase I deployment exercise, a terrorist incident, a mass casualty event and a confined space rescue. Additionally, the base populace will exercise all Force Protection Conditions (FPCONs). Some base personnel will be tested on the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED). These potentially life-saving, portable electronic devices, when used properly, can automatically diagnose potentially life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias and then, through defibrillation, allow the heart to reestablish an effective rhythm. Base officials say the work force should remember to employ a sense of urgency in responding to the various exercise events but, more importantly, to demonstrate an attitude of safety in all exercise-related operations. "We must all remember that we are on a military installation and these exercises are critical to base preparedness" Fincher said.