First Responders Gather To Train For Mass Casualty Crash

Local first responders took to the grind early on Saturday morning to practice a mass casualty drill involving a school bus and 35 victims.

The 35 participants who played “victims” were comprised of local boy scouts and family of area first responders. During the course of the drill, emergency crews had to assess the injuries of those involved in the crash and treat them accordingly.

A range of local departments were present during the drill, including the Penndel Fire Company, Langhorne-Middletown Fire Company, the William Penn Fire Company, Penndel-Middletown Emergency Emergency Medical Squad, Levittown-Fairless Hills Rescue Squad, Central Bucks Ambulance, and Newtown Ambulance Squad.

According to David Harris of the Penndel-Middletown Emergency Medical Squad, the emergency drill that took place the Reddman-Toll test track in Middletown has been planned for a long time, but the recent train accident in Philadelphia brought the need for a strong response to the forefront.

“We’re trying to prepare our people for this, see how they react, and see where we need to train,” Harris said.

According to officials, mass casualty drills like the one conducted here are important for first responders because of the high volume travel options such as Route 1 and the train tracks, as well as high volume attractions such as Sesame Place and the Oxford Valley Mall.

“Drills are where it’s at,” Jeryl DeGideo, the director of emergency medical services for Bucks County said. “We have to really practice to get it right.”

Andy Foley, the deputy chief of Penndel-Middletown Emergency Medical Squad, said he hopes that if other units see the squads participating on Saturday, it would spark more interest in accident preparedness.

“We know there is going to be failure. The place for failure is training,” Foley said.

Aside from the time all the volunteers donated, Reedman-Toll donated the land for the drill and Woods Services donated the bus for the time.

“All the people here, the majority, are volunteers,” Harris explained, stressing the fact that the present volunteers are doing their best to better serve their community.