EOD school's major accident exercise potentially saves lives

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Anthony Jennings
  • Team Eglin Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Four people were killed and 17 injured when a truck with C-4 explosives swerved to miss a deer and careened into a bus filled with 20 Soldiers.

This was the scenario faced by first responders out at the Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal School, Dec. 7, during a Major Accident Response Exercise.

The NAVEOD School performs a MARE annually to test how quickly first responders and medics can respond to a mass casualty incident as well as communicate and work with outside emergency agencies.

"We're testing how quickly and efficiently the victims are treated while ensuring the proper calls are made to outside agencies to get them medical aid," said Kristen Jennings, NAVEOD School Range Safety assistant.

The NAVEOD School worked with range patrol, North Bay Fire Control District and Okaloosa Emergency Medical Services in response to the incident.

Medics and first responders treated injuries such as lacerations, facial bruising with airway constriction, bilateral wrist and ankle sprains, fractures, penetrating chest injuries and abdominal evisceration. 96th Medical Group applied moulage to the "victims" to make the scenario more realistic.

Once their injuries were diagnosed they were moved to a makeshift triage away from the accident and later taken to a local hospital.

Evaluators observed closely to ensure proper procedures were taken and took notes of what could be done better.

"This school is one of the Navy's most high risk training facilities due to the nature of its mission," said Terry Harris, Safety Executive for NAVEOD School. "This is why it is imperative we have an established line of communication and working relationship with outside agencies to potentially save lives."