Students, hospital, RFD take part in disaster drill

By Staff
Jason Houston FCT Managing Editor
The scenario was chilling and realistic - students attending a local tennis tournament find an unattended book bag. They open it, causing a sudden explosion and release of a fine mist that turns out to be a nerve agent.
Thankfully, it was all just a drill, but the Russellville Fire and Police Departments, along with Russellville Hospital, treated it just like the real thing.
The drill, held at the tennis courts behind the Russellville Park and Recreation Center, identified some areas the various departments need to work on, which is exactly what Fire Chief Joe Mansell and Fire Marshal Bobby Malone wanted to see.
The drill was part of routine training for the fire department and hospital. Both entities are required to conduct several such drills each year. Wednesday's scenario involved 27 mock victims, played by students from Russellville High School who are involved in HOSA, or Health Occupation Students of America. The group is led by Lavonda Sparks, who assisted in coordinating the students' involvement.
The Russellville police also played a role - blocking off the area and assisting in securing the scene.
Students, who were treated as hazardous materials victims, were given individual scenarios as to the extent of their injuries and whether they were able to walk after the mock accident.
Those who could walk were placed together away from the "hot zone," or scene of the explosion, into a "warm zone" where they awaited individual decontamination via a real water shower - not a treat on an unusually cool day.
After all the participating firemen and mock patients had gone through the de-con shower, the mock patients were transported to the hospital via ambulance.
Malone said the drill gave some of the newer firemen some great training for such a disaster.