IVINS — Firefighters and police officers from Santa Clara-Ivins and Dammeron Valley, an Intermountain Life Flight helicopter and several emergency medical first responders scrambled to help the victims of a bus crash in Ivins.
But it was only a simulation.
This was the fourth time Rocky Vista University held its annual mass casualty incident preparedness event, providing medical students and local emergency first responders a chance to simulate a mass casualty incident.
Last year, the simulation was of a bombing. This time, on March 23, the mock incident featured something commonly found on St. George News: a multi-vehicle crash.
“Individual training and preparation complemented by group practice are the keys to being effective care workers when faced with such chaos and tragedy,” Andrew Nigh, assistant professor of surgery at Rocky Vista, said.
A big difference this time is the Rocky Vista students were also joined by international students from Utah Tech University and students from Dixie Technology College’s EMT program.
There were more than 200 participants overall. Joining the medical students from Rocky Vista, Utah Tech and Dixie Tech were personnel from Santa Clara-Ivins Police and Fire, Dammeron Valley Fire and Rescue, Gold Cross Ambulance and Life Flight helicopter and crew.
Santa Clara-Ivins Police Lt. Jaron Studley said the simulation is a great opportunity for first responders to practice their techniques and see if they’re up to the challenge, without actual lives being on the line.
“Realistic training scenarios like this are crucial for police, EMS, fire personnel and the community to ensure efficient and timely coordination between these entities during times of crisis,” Studley said. “Such training events also allow public safety personnel to learn from the scenario and refine their working skills.”
Saturday’s event was inspired by a September 2019 crash on state Route 12 near Bryce Canyon involving a tour bus full of Chinese-speaking passengers. All 30 people aboard were injured and four died.
The simulation wasn’t that far from reality. Shortly after the university opened in Ivins, Rocky Mountain Vista students scrambled and aided other first responders at the Bryce Canyon crash site in 2019.
Student Brogan Crockett, president of the school’s Emergency Medicine Club and organizer of this year’s event, said some students were outside in the campus’ parking lot, performing the tasks of EMTs, joining actual EMTs from Santa Clara-Ivins and Gold Cross. The Life Flight crew performed as if it were the real thing, complete with taking off and transporting patients to the hospital.
Back inside, the main buildings on campus were turned into a mock hospital, complete with a simulated emergency room, trauma center, operating room, and a labor and delivery unit. The transformation wasn’t too challenging, considering the school already has simulation rooms and equipment.
“Not only will the RVU students get a first-hand account of what first responders do in the field, but our community partners will be invited to observe and participate as we turn the simulation department into a mock hospital,” Crockett said before the event.
A notable thing that separated the simulation from the real thing was the smiles that could be seen on the participants’ faces. But student Jessica Vergara, who helped coordinate the exercise, said it wasn’t just fun and games.
At its core, she said the event was about saving lives.
“A mass casualty incident refers to an event where the number of casualties overwhelms the available resources of the community and local emergency response system,” she said.
Photo Gallery
Students create a scenario where a first responder attends to a pregnant woman after a crash during the mass casualty incident preparedness event at Rocky Vista University, Ivins, Utah, March 23, 2024 | Photo courtesy of Rocky Vista University, St. George News Students create a scenario where first responder attend to victims after a crash during the mass casualty incident preparedness event at Rocky Vista University, Ivins, Utah, March 23, 2024 | Photo courtesy of Rocky Vista University, St. George News Students and local first responders create a scenario where first responders attend to victims after a crash during the mass casualty incident preparedness event at Rocky Vista University, Ivins, Utah, March 23, 2024 | Photo courtesy of Rocky Vista University, St. George News Students and local first responders create a scenario where first responders attend to victims after a crash during the mass casualty incident preparedness event at Rocky Vista University, Ivins, Utah, March 23, 2024 | Photo courtesy of Rocky Vista University, St. George News Students and local first responders create a scenario where first responders attend to victims after a crash during the mass casualty incident preparedness event at Rocky Vista University, Ivins, Utah, March 23, 2024 | Photo courtesy of Rocky Vista University, St. George News Students and local first responders create a scenario where first responders attend to victims after a crash during the mass casualty incident preparedness event at Rocky Vista University, Ivins, Utah, March 23, 2024 | Photo courtesy of Rocky Vista University, St. George News Dammeron Valley firefighters participate in the mass casualty incident preparedness event at Rocky Vista University, Ivins, Utah, March 23, 2024 | Photo courtesy of Rocky Vista University, St. George News Students and local first responders create a scenario where first responders attend to victims after a crash during the mass casualty incident preparedness event at Rocky Vista University, Ivins, Utah, March 23, 2024 | Photo courtesy of Rocky Vista University, St. George News Students and local first responders create a scenario where first responders attend to victims after a crash during the mass casualty incident preparedness event at Rocky Vista University, Ivins, Utah, March 23, 2024 | Photo courtesy of Rocky Vista University, St. George News Students and local first responders create a scenario where first responders attend to victims after a crash during the mass casualty incident preparedness event at Rocky Vista University, Ivins, Utah, March 23, 2024 | Photo courtesy of Rocky Vista University, St. George News Students work in a simulated trauma center during the mass casualty incident preparedness event at Rocky Vista University, Ivins, Utah, March 23, 2024 | Photo courtesy of Rocky Vista University, St. George News Students work in a simulated trauma center during the mass casualty incident preparedness event at Rocky Vista University, Ivins, Utah, March 23, 2024 | Photo courtesy of Rocky Vista University, St. George News Students work in a simulated trauma center during the mass casualty incident preparedness event at Rocky Vista University, Ivins, Utah, March 23, 2024 | Photo courtesy of Rocky Vista University, St. George News Students work in a simulated trauma center during the mass casualty incident preparedness event at Rocky Vista University, Ivins, Utah, March 23, 2024 | Photo courtesy of Rocky Vista University, St. George News Students create a scenario where a first responder attends to a victim after a crash during the mass casualty incident preparedness event at Rocky Vista University, Ivins, Utah, March 23, 2024 | Photo courtesy of Rocky Vista University, St. George News The Intermountain Lifeflight Helicopter participates in the mass casualty incident preparedness event at Rocky Vista University, Ivins, Utah, March 23, 2024 | Photo courtesy of Rocky Vista University, St. George News Students and local first responders create a scenario where first responders attend to victims after a crash during the mass casualty incident preparedness event at Rocky Vista University, Ivins, Utah, March 23, 2024 | Photo courtesy of Rocky Vista University, St. George News
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