News>Artists in Gore: moulage team create bloody masterpieces
Photos
Airman 1st Class Thomas Howard, of the 96th Aerospace Medicine Squadron, paints some blood on Airman 1st Class Justine Wilson, from the 96th Mission Support Group, prior to a mass casualty exercise April 19. The 96th Medical Group's moulage team turned more than 40 volunteers into ‘horror movie’ realistic victims of an aircraft fire. The team’s “art” provides a sense of realism in exercises that medics and first responders may encounter in real-world accidents. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)
A ‘victim’ waits for more gore to be applied to his face and body prior to a mass casualty exercise April 19. The 96th Medical Group moulage team turned more than 40 volunteers into ‘horror movie’ realistic victims of an aircraft fire. The team’s “art” provides a sense of realism in exercises that medics and first responders may encounter in real-world accidents. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)
A 96th Medical Group moulage team member creates blood spatter on a volunteer prior to a mass casualty exercise April 19. The moulage team turned more than 40 volunteers into ‘horror movie’ realistic victims of an aircraft fire. The team’s “art” provides a sense of realism in exercises that medics and first responders may encounter in real-world accidents. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)
Airman 1st Class Greg Meyer, 96th Medical Operations Squadron, applies detail to the putty compound to create a realistic facial wound prior to a mass casualty exercise April 19. The moulage team turned more than 40 volunteers into ‘horror movie’ realistic victims of an aircraft fire. The team’s “art” provides a sense of realism in exercises that medics and first responders may encounter in real-world accidents. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)
Eric Alexander (left) and others became ‘bloody’ realistic victims for an April 19 mass casualty exercise thanks to the 96th Medical Group’s moulage team. The team turned more than 40 volunteers into ‘horror movie’ realistic victims of an aircraft fire. The team’s “art” provides a sense of realism in exercises that medics and first responders may encounter in real-world accidents. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)
Airman 1st Class Thomas Howard, of the 96th Aerospace Medicine Squadron, cuts down amount of the simulated shrapnel from Senior Airman Krystle Miller’s face prior to a mass casualty exercise April 19. The 96th Medical Group's moulage team turned more than 40 volunteers into ‘horror movie’ realistic victims of an aircraft fire. The team’s “art” provides a sense of realism in exercises that medics and first responders may encounter in real-world accidents. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)
A 96th Medical Group moulage team member applies more blood to a victim's face prior to the mass casualty exercise April 19. The moulage team turned more than 40 volunteers into ‘horror movie’ realistic victims of an aircraft fire. The team’s “art” provides a sense of realism in exercises that medics and first responders may encounter in real-world accidents. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)
Staff Sgt. Edward Borges, of the 96th Logistics Readiness Squadron, has a large bloody gash placed onto his arm prior to a mass casualty exercise April 19. The 96th Medical Group moulage team turned more than 40 volunteers into ‘horror movie’ realistic victims of an aircraft fire. The team’s “art” provides a sense of realism in exercises that medics and first responders may encounter in real-world accidents. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)
4/23/2012 - EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Dozens of Airmen lay motionless on the ground, most with blood seeping through their clothes or shrapnel protruding from their bodies.
What would seem like a scene from a horror movie or war film is actually the result of moulage. During a training exercise here April 19, Airmen were dressed up with plastic molds, fake blood and makeup to simulate the appearance of real injuries.
The moulage applied replicated blast injuries ranging from burns and bruises to shrapnel and lacerations.
Members of the 96th Medical Group prepped more than 40 volunteers with wounds simulating injuries which first responders and medics may encounter in real-world incidents.
"A lot of experience with moulage comes from trial and error," said Lt. Col. Lenora Cook. "You have to visualize what a certain injury may look like while applying the makeup. We try to get creative to make the injury as real as possible."
The team's "art" provides a sense of realism in exercises that medics and first responders may encounter in real-world accidents.
"It's useful because when a patient is lying on the ground and they can visually see the injury, it encourages medics to tap into their sense of urgency, which is key to saving someone's life," she said.
The bulk of the moulage used is clay that can be molded to create skin pieces. The moulage team also used liquid latex, Vaseline, metal and wood to create a realistic injury.
The amount of time spent applying the make-up to a single volunteer can range from 10 to 30 minutes.
Anyone interesting in being part of the moulage team can contact Cook at 883-9524 to volunteer to be a victim or learn to apply the makeup.
