9 months ago
DAVIS, CA - A simulated bus crash brought local emergency responders together to work on their skills before the next tragedy hits.
Firefighters and EMTs from Davis, Dixon, Woodland, and West Sacramento tipped a bus on its side and proceeded to simulate saving about three dozen UC Davis students acting as victims. The local ambulance company and hospital participated as well.
"It's important for the different agencies to work together because we do depend on each other for mutual aid," said Woodland Fire Department Battalion Chief Jim Burau.
Each "victim" had a role to play. One was told to be annoying. Another was told to refuse to leave another victim. Each created a little more chaos in the scene.
"We try to make it as real as possible," said actor Lindsay Walker, "So they're prepared for everything."
Burau saids that each part of the exercise was planned with reality in mind, down to the confusion that would happen in a real accident. False information was purposely distributed so rescuers would have to find and respond to the truth.
"There's always a certain amount of confusion that you try to control through the incident command system," said Burau. "It's important for us to get together so we do eliminate as much confusion as we can."
News10/KXTV
