Training day simulates hazmat accident

More than 30 first responders assembled early Saturday morning at the Sanders County Fairgrounds to conduct a simulated emergency event.

The exercise was months in planning between the Clark Fork Valley Hospital and Sanders County Emergency Management Manager Bill Naegeli.

First responders included Hot Springs Ambulance, Plains Paradise Rural Fire District, Plains City Volunteer Fire Department, Sander County Sheriff's Department, Plains Police Department, Clark Fork Valley Hospital, Plains Community Ambulance, and the Thompson Falls Ambulance.

Naegeli said the main goal of the days exercise was to assess inter agency communications. The simulation was a repeat of one done 14 years ago. 

The scenario was a train versus semi tanker truck carrying diesel fuel, resulting in multiple injuries and hazmat contaminations involving vehicles and surrounding pedestrians as well as onlookers passing by.  

Participating in the event and acting as injured victims were members of the Plains High School Drama Club. Makeup was applied to each student to simulate various injuries ranging from head wounds, bone fractures, to dangerous hazmat contaminations. 

During the event, Plains City Volunteer Fire Chief Anthony Young said, “We want to make sure we’re doing things right and perfecting the process.” 

The emergency response started with isolating the accident site area as a hot zone only accessible to properly protected firefighters. Outside of the hot zone fire engines, ambulances, a hazmat decontamination area, and a temporary triage area were established.  

Simulated victims in the hot zone were approached by firefighters and assessed for injuries and any hazmat contaminants. Victims were removed to the decontaminate site if needed. Those showing serious injuries were taken to the triage area, where they were stabilized and transported to the hospital by ambulance. 

At Clark Fork Valley Hospital, victims were assessed by Dr. Donald Damschen and Dr. Jessica Valentine in the emergency room. 

The emergency response exercise concluded with a debriefing of all attendees to review the goals, the successes and the things that needed improvement. 

“Things went well. A couple of things with communications were not followed and with continued practice, that will improve,” commented Naegeli. “I think we hit all my goals.” 

Plains-Paradise Rural Fire District Chief James Russell said, “It went well. There is always room for improvement. We need to do this more often. The more we practice the better we are.”  

The common response during the debriefing was the need to improve interagency communications.  

Clark Fork Valley Hospital’s Chief Nursing Officer, Lisa Eberhardt said, “I think we are doing a great job. We need to be available for when the real thing happens and this is always a good way to practice what we know, what we want to do, and make sure it all works the way we expect it to. We have been working on this since May.”

    Simulated injuries are applied to high school junior Keelie Hathorn. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)
  

    Donald Damschen and Jessica Valentine treat Logan Steineba at the Clark Fork Valley Hospital Emergency Room during the simulated accident. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)