By Chris Durant
Eureka Times Standard (California)
Copyright 2007 Times - Standard
All Rights Reserved
EUREKA, Calif. — Personnel from five ambulance crews, the Eureka Fire Department and the Humboldt Fire Protection District took part in a drill Friday that was aimed at solidifying communications among the agencies.
“When the real thing happens we’ll all be on the same page,” said Paramedic Josh Smith with City Ambulance, which coordinated the drill.
More than 30 cones were placed in a vacant area near the Water Tower at Harris and K streets Friday morning.
The cones had discs with pictures of people on one side and a quick description of what condition the simulated victim was in.
The drill represented a bus crash with 35 victims.
Examples of the victim condition description include “52-year-old male, confused and unable to remember his chief complaint,” and “98-year-old male found strapped in his wheelchair and unresponsive.”
Firefighters would comb through the victims, placing a tag around the cone indicating whether the person fell in one of four categories: Immediate, delayed, morgue and the walking wounded.
Then ambulance drivers would take those who needed medical attention first in an ambulance.
“It’s been a while since we’ve done any joint training,” said Eureka Fire Capt. II Chris Emmons.
Emmons believes Friday’s drill is the first in what may lead to a more countywide drill in the future.
The drill was completed three times Friday. There were three cones placed in the morgue after the first drill.