Quantico learns prepares for tragedy

Photo By Sgt. Emmanuel Ramos | Quantico emergency teams, along with more than 10 medical response teams participated in a full scale mass casualty evacuation training exercise that took place at The Basic School training ranges June 9.  

QUANTICO, VA, UNITED STATES

11.16.2012

Story by Lance Cpl. Emmanuel Ramos 

Marine Corps Base Quantico

QUANTIC, Va. -

More than 10 medical response teams participated in a full scale mass casualty evacuation training exercise that took place at The Basic School training ranges June 9.

The exercise simulated two aircraft carrying 24 lieutenants from TBS, and eight crew members that went down during training.

“The potential for something like this to happen is high,” said Capt. Peter Colby, a force protection plans officer, for the base. “TBS does a lot of these types of training exercises; we have to make sure we’re prepared.”

The purposes of the training was to test how quick and effective the Quantico Fire Department, in conjunction with civilian emergency response teams, respond to a major accident and provide assistance to those injured.

“Quantico has very little capabilities,” said Maj. John Moore, a TBS air officer with Training and Education Command. “We’ve established agreements with local medical response teams and hospitals in case of emergencies.”

Upon arrival to the scene, medics rushed to set up casualty evacuation sites, and start providing medical attention to the injured Marines.

Since there were multiple casualties going to several hospitals, medics would get as much information from the victims as possible in order to keep accountability.

“We track the victims to make sure we know we got everybody,” said Colby.

Fire departments from three different counties worked together to put out the fiery debris, and assisted in moving casualties to the triage centers.

“I felt like everyone did a real great job,” said Moore “Everybody took their roles very serious, and got the job done.

After the injured Marines were stabilized on site, they were transported to nearby hospitals where medical staff was waiting to provide them with further medical attention.

The severely injured casualties were taken to a nearby landing zone and were airlifted to Sentara Potomac Hospital.

“A training exercise of this scale takes a lot of coordination,” said Moore. “We had been planning this exercise since late last year.”
Moore said that of all of the lessons learned during the training, the most important thing everyone should take away from this exercise is the command and control aspect.

“We have so many agencies out here,” Moore said. “To be able to seamlessly integrate for something this dynamic is why we’re doing this training here today.”

Combat Correspondent [e-mail]

• Date Taken: 11.16.2012
• Date Posted: 11.17.2012 09:53
• Story ID: 98021
• Location: QUANTICO, VA, US