On Tuesday June 9, 2009, the Downey Fire Department hosted a joint training exercise involving hazardous materials and medical emergency exposure and injury components.  Agencies participating included Downey, Compton, Montebello, Santa Fe Springs, and Vernon Fire Departments, as well as AmeriCare Ambulance.

AmeriCare Ambulance is the primary back up provider for the City of Downey and sent four Ambulances and two supervisor units to participate as they would during a real Multi-Casualty Incident (MCI).  The Downey and Compton Fire Department ambulances also participated in the drill.

During the event, over 25 student volunteers were “given” bloody wounds, broken bones, and body makeup to make the scenario more realistic and enhance the triage process which includes treatment at, and transportation from, the incident location.  The injured were loaded into ambulances and transported to Downey Regional Medical Center where they utilized decontaminations showers and other continuation of care procedures that a receiving hospital would be required to perform for patients involved in a hazardous materials incident.  Once they were through the decontamination process, they went through a standard evaluation process which includes X-rays and other treatment and evaluation modalities.

AmeriCare personnel attending were EMTs: Carlos Ayala, Chad Beaty, Jennifer Dent, Keith Plugh, Jesus Ramirez, Joseph Yoo;  FTOs: Jeff Chung, Andy Silvas, and our Director of Operations Jami Shepherd.

Training for these events, particularly involving multiple agencies, helps AmeriCare prepare for future emergencies by familiarize our employees with procedures used during disasters and improves their ability to work under stressful situations.  Observers were on hand to evaluate the training sessions and to provide recommendations to improve the operations.  This helps to ensure better methods of responding and handling similar emergencies in the future. In addition to the excellent training this drill provided, AmeriCare personnel will also receive continuing education credits towards their recertification process.