Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan -- To prepare for Friendship Day 2009, emergency medical personnel esponded to a simulated aircraft mishap that resulted in multiple casualties and airshow spectator chaos here March 1.
These full scale exercises have been the most comprehensive manner of testing the station’s emergency services’ response plans, said Keith Johnson, the disaster preparedness officer who choreographed the event.
The day started off with a short bus ride to the flightline around noon. About 30 volunteers from Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron were transformed into victims and spectators of the simulated crash. They were given injuries as ranging from smoke inhalation to broken arms and chest wounds.
“It was really fun,” said Lance Cpl. Thang T. Nguyen. “It was great to see everyone acting the part to complete the exercise.”
Before the exercise, the simulated wounded and dead were instructed on how to act in a manner that would best meet the training needs. Some were completely unconscious while others could only respond to pain or acted hysterical just to add to the chaos.
At approximately 2 p.m., the crash occurred. Air station emergency services were called to respond to the incident in order to exercise and evaluate their capabilities in preparation for the Friendship Day airshow.
Lying on the cold pavement of the flightline, the victims waited for the rescue team to arrive.
In an actual event, the worst of the casualties would have been airlifted to hospitals off base, but for training purposes, were separated from the remaining victims. The others were sent to a triage center to assess their wounds.
From the triage center, the victims whose wounds were more critical were taken off base and the rest were taken to the Robert M. Casey Medical and Dental Clinic here.
Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting, medical personnel, the station fire department, and the Provost Marshal’s Office all participated in making this event come together.
“We do this to make sure all of the emergency services around the station can work together and work cohesively in an incident like this,” said Johnson.
The mass casualty event is an evolution that happens annually to prepare for Friendship Day, but they plan on conducting more of them to make sure the station is prepared throughout the year, said Johnson.
The purpose of this exercise was to increase the proficiency of all first responder personnel in response to an aircraft mishap or emergency while civilian spectators are in close proximity. The exercise also served to confirm the functionality and effectiveness of each first responder agencies’ tactics, techniques and procedures.
“Overall, the event went very well this year,” Johnson concluded.