Drill tests emergency responders
Published: September 2, 2009
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A crash victim is ushered through the mass decontamination unit set up by firefighters at the Mass Casualty/HazMat emergency response drill held Saturday at the National Guard Armory in New Milford. STAFF PHOTO/STACI WILSON
Emergency responders carried the wounded off the school bus and transported them to area hospitals who also participated in the emergency drill. STAFF PHOTO/STACI WILSON
Emergency responders and both county hospitals were put to the test Saturday in a mass casualty, hazardous material drill held at the National Guard Armory, New Milford.
The field drill scenario featured a collision between a school bus loaded with passengers and a truck hauling diesel fuel, which resulted in on-scene and hospital casualties.
The drill tested local emergency responders as the injured were triaged, decontaminated and transported for care at Barnes-Kasson and Endless Mountains Health Systems.
Susquehanna County Red Cross volunteers were also on hand and prepared a meal for the participants.
Following the exercise, Cocciardi and Associates, consultants hired to review and assess the exercise, provided a ‘hot wash’ debriefing of the day’s events. Although the drill was interrupted twice for live calls, overall the emergency responders did very well with triage and efficiently setting up the mass decontamination unit.
“If we didn’t learn anything today, it was a waste of our time,” said Susquehanna County Emergency Management Director.
The drill was designed to test emergency responders with situations they don’t deal with on a daily basis and expose them to using the plans in place for those situations.
Participating agencies included: New Milford Fire and EMS; Decon Engine Companies: Harford, Clifford, Springville, United, Forest Lake, Thompson, and Little Meadows. EMS units: Barnes, Clifford, Great Bend-Hallstead, Harford, Montrose, Silver Lake, Susquehanna, Thompson and Little Meadows. And First Response units: Hop Bottom, Forest Lake, Rush, and Union Dale.
The exercise was conducted by the Bradford-Susquehanna EMS Council.
Cocciardi and Associates, Inc., is a consulting company with expertise in the Emergency Preparedness field. Cocciardi provides emergency planning, training, and continuity of services programs for many private and public sector clients throughout Pennsylvania.
