Emergency responders prepare to transport a
"victim" played by a member of the New York Army National Guard
during a joint civilian-military emergency drill at the New York National
Guard's Camp Smith Training Site near Peekskill, N.Y., Saturday, June 13.
Volunteer firefighters and area emergency medical responders joined New York
Army National Guard Soldiers in an emergency response drill designed to test
their ability to deal with an incident on the post. (U.S. Army National Guard
photo by Sgt. Maj. Corine Lombardo/Released)
CAMP SMITH
TRAINING SITE, NY - Dozens of Camp Smith Training Site personnel and local
emergency medical and fire units tested evacuation procedures, here, June 13.
The rehearsal required emergency responders to
remove occupants from a roll-over vehicle accident, assess and treat simulated
injuries while in a wooded training area. Once patients were stabilized, they
were evacuated by ambulance and helicopter.
According to Lt. Col. Joseph Cetta, Camp Smith
Training Site Garrison Commander, the rehearsal had two goals.
The exercise allowed the garrison of the camp,
located near Peekskill, N.Y., to test and validate Camp Smith’s operating
procedures for dealing with an emergency requiring local support. It also
provided local responders and Soldiers the chance to become familiar with each
other’s’ procedures if they have to work together to save someone’s life, Cetta
said.
“It worked
well and we’re very pleased with the outcome,” Cetta said. “The greatest
benefit is the chance to interact with the Continental Village Fire Department
in this environment before an emergency.”
The
department serves as the "on-call" responder for the 1,600 acre
training site.
“Every
training opportunity enhances our ability to respond quicker. Bottom line, it
helps save lives,” said Chief Dan Brophy, head of the department.
“The more we
know about the layout of Camp Smith, the quicker we can maneuver around and
find a location if there’s an actual emergency,” Brophy said.
Also making their job easier is having
military personnel on site that are Combat Life Saver qualified, Brophy said. Combat Life Savers are known as CLS, for short.
Continental Village Fire Department Chief
Dan Brophy, assess the accident site during a joint civilian-military emergency
drill at the New York National Guard's Camp Smith Training Site near Peekskill,
N.Y. on Saturday, June 13. Volunteer firefighters and area emergency medical
responders joined New York Army National Guard Soldiers in an emergency
response drill designed to test their ability to deal with an incident on the
post. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Maj. Corine Lombardo/Released)
As part of the training scenario Spec. David
Sharbowicz, a medic assigned to 1156th Engineer Company came upon the accident
scene and was quickly able to secure the site and determine the level of
injuries sustained by the occupants.
“We waited
for the EMS to arrive and provided information based on our assessment,”
Sharbowicz explained.
“Having a
CLS already on the scene when we arrive enhances our ability to make quick
decisions. It helps tremendously, since they’re able to triage a casualty and
relay it to the firemen or paramedics when they arrive – it makes things go
faster,” Brophy said.
Every unit that trains on Camp Smith is
required to have a percentage of qualified Soldiers trained in CLS, based on
the number of Soldiers training. In any emergency a CLS will be the first on
the scene to treat a casualty and assess the situation, explained Cetta.
Also participating in the rehearsal were
Cortlandt Regional Paramedics, Peekskill Community Volunteer Ambulance Corps
and Life Net of NY Air 2, Wallkill.
“This was an
excellent opportunity for us to work together with first responders from the
community and to get face time with the folks we’ll be working with in case we
ever do need them for a life threatening event.,” said David Rogers, Camp
Smith's Safety Manager and training organizer.
Story by
Master Sgt. Corine Lombardo
