Artists in Gore: moulage team create bloody masterpieces

  • Published
  • By Samuel King Jr.
  • Team Eglin Public Affairs
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.