Pursuant to Starfleet General Policy and Starfleet Medical Emergency Operations, at least 40% of the officers and crew of the Akira class are cross-trained to serve as Emergency Medical technicians, to serve as triage specialists, medics, and other emergency medical functions along with non-medical emergency operations in engineering or tactical departments. This set of policies was established due to the wide variety of emergencies, both medical and otherwise, that a Federation Starship could respond to on any given mission. The observation lounge on deck 1 along with the VIP/guest quarters on deck 2 can serve as emergency intensive care wards, with an estimated online timeframe of 30 minutes with maximum engineering support. Further, the primary flight deck has 5 mobile hospitals that can be deployed either on the flight deck, or transported to Cargo Bay 2 or 3 for emergency overflow triage centers. Cargo Bay 3 also provides for the emergency atmosphere recalibration to type H,K or L environments, intended for non-humanoid casualties. All facilities are equipped with full Bio-hazard suites, to minimize and prevent crew exposure to potentially deadly diseases.
Lifeboats
Aside from the escape options of shuttlecraft or transporters, the primary survival craft of the Akira class is the escape pod or lifeboat. Each Akira carries a total of 100 of the 8-person variants, which measures 5.6 meters tall and 6.2 meters along the edge of the triangle. Each Lifeboat can support a full compliment for 6 months, longer if the lifeboats connect together. All are equipped with navigational sensors, microthrusters, plus emergency subspace communication equipment.
Rescue and Evacuation Operations
Rescue and Evacuation Operations for an Akira class starship will fall into one of two categories - abandoning the starship, or rescue and evacuation from a planetary body or another starship.
Rescue Scenarios:
Resources are available for rescue and evacuation to an Akira class starship include:
The ability to transport 350 persons per hour to the ship via personnel transporters.
The availability of the two Type 6 and two type 7 shuttlecraft to be on hot-standby for immediate launch, with all additional shuttlecraft available for launch in an hours notice. Total transport capabilities of these craft vary due to differing classifications but an average load of 150 persons can be offloaded per hour from a standard orbit to an M Class planetary surface. Capacity to support up to 4500 evacuees with conversion of the shuttle bays and cargo bays to emergency living quarters. Ability to convert Holodecks, the Observation Lounge and the Crew Lounge to emergency triage and medical centers. Ability to temporarily convert Cargo Bay 3 to type H,K, or L environments, intended for non-humanoid casualties.
Abandon-Ship Scenarios:
Resources available for abandon-ship scenarios from an Akira class starship include:
The ability to transport 350 persons per hour from the ship via personnel and emergency transporters.
The availability of the two Type 6 and two type 7 shuttlecraft to be on hot-standby for immediate launch, with all additional shuttlecraft available for launch in an hours notice. Total transport capabilities of these craft vary due to differing classifications but an average load of 150 persons can be offloaded per hour from a standard orbit to an M Class planetary surface. Protocols also include the use of Lifeboats. Each lifeboat carries a total of 100 of the 8-person variants, which measures 5.6 meters tall and 6.2 meters along the edge of the triangle.
Each Lifeboat can support a full compliment for 6 months, longer if they connect together in "Gaggle Mode". Environmental Suits are available for evacuation directly into a vacuum. In such a scenario, personnel can evacuate via airlocks, the shuttle bays, or through exterior turbolift couplings.
Environmental suits are available at all exterior egress points, along with survival lockers spaced through-out the habitable portions of the starship.
Many exterior windows are removable, allowing for egress.
However, these manual releases are only activated in the event of atmosphere loss, power loss, certain Red Alert conditions, and only if personnel in contiguous compartments have access to an environmental suit.
