McKinney’s first responders underwent three days of training this week for mass casualty situations at the Collin College Public Safety Training Center.
The training simulations were conducted through a partnership between the McKinney Fire Department, Medical City McKinney, and Collin College.
On Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, firefighters and EMS personnel went through realistic scenarios, including active shooters, building collapse, and hazardous material incidents.
“This training is designed to allow first responders and healthcare workers to experience the chaos and stress of large-scale incidents while working together to discover ways to improve the response in the future,” read a statement from McKinney Fire.
Firefighters undergo continued education modules every other month on various topics, but this week’s training sessions were much closer to reality.
“The more realistic it is, the better the education level is,” said Charlie Skaggs, EMS Chief with the McKinney Fire Department.
The simulations involved roughly 30 volunteers who were transformed to sport faux gunshot wounds, burn marks, bloody patches, and, for some, the impression of random objects sticking out of body parts.
The simulations were also given added complexity throughout the week, with the last simulations on Thursday including an added darkness factor.
Other efforts to add doses of reality to the situation included victims with minor injuries acting as distractions to first responders as they attempt to help more critical patients; medics arriving in phases, just as they would in an actual situation; and one volunteer acting as if she is having a possible miscarriage that EMTs must address.
“This is so much better than lecturing in the hall or reading a paper,” said Keegan Bradley, McKinney Fire Medical Director.
The choices made and actions taken by first responders can decide “who lives, who dies, and what resource do we have to help as many as we can,” added Bradley.
The increasing frequency of active-shooter scenarios has forced first responders and schools to ensure they are prepared for their response. In an active shooter situation, while law enforcement works to stop the killing, firefighters and EMS are tasked with stopping the dying.
“Responding to a mass casualty incident or disaster requires a well-planned and integrated effort by all involved,” McKinney Fire Chief Daniel Kistner said. “Even though this is training, the end goal is to be ready to do our best to protect the people of McKinney.”
