With the assistance of numerous local emergency agencies, Asante Three Rivers Medical Center staged a mass casualty training event late last week.
On Friday morning, the training occurred in the area of Grandview Avenue and Ringuette Street. Participating agencies included Grants Pass Fire & Rescue, Rural Metro Fire Department, American Medical Response, Grants Pass Police, the Josephine County Sheriff's Office, Jackson County Fire District #1, Illinois Valley Fire District, Applegate Valley Fire District, Mercy Flights, Reach Air Medical Services and Cal-Ore Life Flight.
Approximately three-dozen first responders were involved in the exercise as participants or observers. Two of the observers became mock victims themselves after being contaminated by a simulated explosion at an organo-phosphate farm.
Approximately two-dozen Grants Pass High School students volunteered to play the roles of victims with a wide variety of injuries, five of which were deemed "fatal." The students -- doused in fake blood and sporting phony shrapnel injuries -- yelled and screamed as if they had been badly wounded, adding to the effect of the simulation.
Personnel from Asante and the high school were on scene to assist and observe the first responders and students. Grants Pass Fire & Rescue is preparing for another emergency drill early next year.
