Advanced preparation is always a preferred approach to handling an emergency. That was the clear intent of the Disaster Life Support Training conducted in a four-day course last week at the former East Fayette Elementary School in Fayetteville.

Approximately 40 nurses, doctors and paramedics/firefighters from Fayette County were joined by others from Valdosta and South Carolina for the training provided by staff from Medical College of Georgia (MCG) in Augusta, according to Fayette Fire & EMS Compliance Officer Scott Roberts, who helped organize the training. The MCG group is affiliated with the National Disaster Life Support Foundation, Roberts said.

“This is preparation for mass casualties from a natural or manmade disaster or a chemical release incident,” Roberts said. “It is an all-hazards approach and, outside the classroom, we are using mass triage training in a mock disaster.”

And a disaster it was. A clear case for mass triage, the playground at East Fayette was transformed into a realistic scene of destruction that followed fictional shootings at a pretend outdoor event.

It came complete with trainers lying injured or dead, bodies strewn across the playground. Some were screaming for help. The distraught father of one of the injured had a handgun, waving it furiously to summon paramedics as they rushed to the scene.

Responders were met with a large number of people in need, being required to quickly assess the medical needs of an overwhelming number of victims.

And if that made-up scenario was not sufficiently complicated, the situation intensified when one of the bystanders pulled open his jacket to reveal fake dynamite strapped to his chest.

“The object of this training was to increase participants’ knowledge, heighten their awareness and enhance their own training and effectiveness,” Roberts said toward the conclusion of the course, noting the knowledge and skills possessed by MCG staff. “We had an excellent instructor with full knowledge of the subject matter.”

The course was divided into three segments. In both the classroom or outside on the playground, attendees on the first day received Basic Disaster Life Support, followed by Advanced Disaster Life Support on the second and third days and culminating with Instructor Training on the final day of the course.

Fayette County is no stranger to disaster training. Mirroring the course taught nationwide, Fayette conducted a similar course in basic and advanced life support four years ago. It is always best to be proactive, Roberts said.

Roberts thanked Fayette County Board of Education for providing the campus at East Fayette for the timely training.

login to post comments