We had a large scale Mass Casualty Exercise yesterday. I have been involved in quite a few over the years, but this one was the largest, so far, I have been involved with. The senerio was a school shooting with a chemical release also. We had the SWAt team, EMS, Fire, EMA, Crisis Intervention team, Haz Mat responce team, and numerous Law Enforcement agencies. I believe they had 170+ volunteers. They were the patients, victims, monitors, safety people and other vols that help put evreything together. I had the EMS Command position at the Incedint Command Post. Boy that was a big change from being on the truck and doing patient care to being in command of all EMS operations. It went over very well. Of course there were plenty of hitches, snags and other goofs. But overall it turned out well and a lot of valuable information was learned. Its better to screw things up on the drill field instead of in the middle of the real deal. I really enjoyed the training exercise, I am one of those weird ones that likes training and will get in every class that comes along. Has anyone else participated in an exercise such as this and in what copacity? I think these exercises are very important for public safety responders to do. The information that can be learned is priceless and could result in less lives lost to a major incident.

 

Our county has done several plane crash scenarios. SO, Fire and EMS, of course FAA and some other acronyms participate. The ones that sound fun are the water based wrecks, but I have a background in underwater recovery.

 

i got to be invovled in a large scale nuclear accident exercise a long time ago when in the Navy. i looked pretty scary also doing it, i was part of the security team for securing the accident sight. i got to wear the big bird costume (the radiation suit) and carry around an m16 securing the perimeter and access points.

 

What is the "crisis intervention team"

It seems with all the other teams you have youd have everything covered. I dunno though im just curious.

 

From 12 in 1 MVC with only 1 EMS unit in service (real incident) to a plane crash (drill) with 120 victms and multi agency interaction. From MVC incidents to chemical leaks and building collaps to bomb blasts!

They are needed for good, safe and qiuck handling of real incidents.

 

The crisis intervention team is made up of different people such as councelors, pastors and other people trained to help with victims and family members of victims that are coming to the scene. The area for the crisis intervention team is normally a designated area away from the scene where anyone incoming that does not need to be at the scene, but may have family there, can be sent to where they can get information and counceling if needed. What we had was a reunification area where students were bussed too so they could be accounted for and reunified with family. They use something similar at air plane crashes to handle the inflow of family, who are looking for answers and loved ones. I hope I explained crisis intervention team appropriately.

 

Some years back while in the Air Force I used to get involved in Mass Casualty Ex's. Did the big ones right before air shows. Was an Evaluation Team Member and as a munitions guy we'd set off the GBS (ground burst simulators) which was the "kickoff" to the exercise. Scenarious would typically be a plane crash or collision between two. Responders from Cops, FD, Safety, Bio-Environmental, Medics, Chaplain, Comm, etc., plus a Command Post.

Also did a bunch of small scale munitions related exercises. Mainly tested the Cops, Fire, EOD, and a few others.

Went out on a actual 747 crash on Guam as a part of a recovery team. An experience I will not forget...

Rich