Emergency responders were put to the test on Saturday, April 27 when a liquid transport truck crashed into a school bus. Fortunately the injuries to a dozen schoolchildren and the bus driver were simulated, however participants in the exercise, which was part of the Cook County Emergency Services Conference, agreed it was quite realistic. The “bus crash” was part of a myriad of training on Friday and Saturday.
The 2013 Cook County Emergency Services Conference was a whirlwind of activities from its start at noon on Friday, April 26 to its closing at a banquet on Saturday evening, April 27. All of the demonstrations and drills were intended to fine-tune the skills of emergency responders in a variety of platforms. The ultimate goal of all the emergency workers was to make Cook County a safer place for all.
Commissioners express appreciation
Commissioner Garry Gamble gave a welcome to a packed room of emergency personnel at noon on Friday, recalling that he and his wife Renee had been honored to serve as food service coordinators for the conference for seven years. He said it was another honor to give the welcome to the conference as a commissioner.
Gamble apologized that the coffee was not ready when conference participants arrived. He quipped, “Every other year, the coffee was ready. This year it’s not. You see… government moves slowly!”
There were many different training opportunities at the Cook County Emergency Services Conference. Above: A member of Lake County emergency services learns how to give a dog oxygen in the Basic Animal Rescue training. Left: Looking frighteningly real, these girls waited for the ambulance on backboards in the triage after the mock bus crash.
Turning serious, Gamble spoke of some unfortunate accidents he had witnessed and the bravery and dedication of those who responded. Speaking on behalf of his county board colleagues, Gamble said, “I am so very grateful for what you do.”
Conference sessions then got under way, with an update from Cook County Sheriff Mark Falk on courthouse and other government building security. Chief Deputy Leif Lunde gave an update on the introduction of the Allied Radio Matrix for Emergency Response (ARMER) to the county.
Speaker Jonathan Bundt spoke to the emergency responders about “responding to a mass fatality event, understanding human impact and the community’s response.” Bundt shared some incidents he had been involved in nearly 30 years in the behavioral science and law enforcement field, specializing in dealing with disaster and crisis planning. Despite the grim topic, Bundt coaxed some laughs out of the crowd, such as when he explained how to deal with what he dubbed SUVs (spontaneous uninvited volunteers).
However, Kristenson—and the emergency responders who trained so hard during the conference—may be happy to hear the response of one of the “victims.” One young girl who played one of the more seriously injured patients and was backboarded said the exercise reassured her that if she were in an accident, she would be taken care of. “I feel safer now,” she told one emergency responder.
Bundt applauded Cook County for hosting the Emergency Services Conference, noting it was very important to prepare for the worst. Finishing his session, Bundt reminded responders to take care of themselves and their families too.
There were breakout sessions through both days on pediatric issues for medical personnel; an introduction to rope rescue for search and rescue personnel; mass decontamination for hospital, fire and law enforcement personnel; emergency signage planning for area trail groups; fire investigation for firefighters; cardiac training for hospital and EMS workers; basic animal rescue for all emergency responders; Skywarn (weather watch) training for the general public and much more.
Putting training in action
Some of the skills discussed and practiced in the breakout sessions were put to good use in the Saturday afternoon simulated bus crash. Dale and Barb Ashbee of Neebing, Ontario Emergency Services instructed the classroom portion of the exercise while Meaghan Ashbee worked with volunteer “victims,” using moulage, the art of applying mock injuries. Local youths anxiously stood in line to be made up as bus accident victims.
Cook County Emergency Management Director Jim Wiinanen (left) presents Michael Valentini of the Gunflint Trail Fire Department with the Emergency Services Provider of the Year Award for 2013. Valentini was nominated by Gunflint Fire Chief Mike Prom. Valentini accepted the award on behalf of his colleagues on the Gunflint department. “We all do this together,” he said.
At 1 p.m. a page went out for help at the scene of an accident on 4th Avenue West by the Little League field. A transport truck had crashed into a school bus. Law enforcement, firefighters and First Responders from six different departments rushed to the scene. They quickly formed a cohesive team—setting up a triage area, assessing patients, working to get the seriously injured back-boarded and carefully taken off the bus.
The “victims”—12 young people and an adult “bus driver”—did an excellent job, appearing confused, anxious, and in pain, and they gave emergency responders a good training session. In the after-action discussion, there was consensus—“It was overwhelming,” said First Responder Linda Bloomquist of the Colvill Fire Department. “There was so much noise on the bus I could hardly hear my radio.”
Incident Commander Larry McNealy of the Lutsen Fire Department agreed. “It was overwhelming. Every time we do this type of training, I think, ‘What did I get myself into?’ But that is why we do it. I learned a lot,” he said.
Sheriff Mark Falk had his hands full dealing with a volunteer “anxious parent” at the scene. “It was chaotic,” said Falk. “But you control the chaos.”
Cook County Public Health Nurse Joni Kristenson was on hand and she counseled the young people who played the role of “victim.” She told them to be sure to talk to someone if they were troubled by the pretend accident.
A final thanks
At the Saturday night dinner, after a delicious meal prepared by a county commissioner and friends, Brigadier General (Retired) Joe Kelly spoke about the similarities between his military and his current work as director of Minnesota Homeland Security and Emergency Management. He said in the Army he learned to “train as you fight.” He said emergency responders must “prepare as you respond.”
Kelly noted that it is important to do as Cook County does at the emergency services conference, to get the “whole team” together.
He closed by saying, “Thank you for all you do.”
Leave a Reply