Preparedness is key when it comes to potential airport disasters, and the Columbus Division of Fire demonstrated this commitment during a mass casualty drill last Wednesday. Joined by units from Rickenbacker, Madison Township Fire, and other agencies, the focus was on Rickenbacker International Airport's triennial full-scale emergency response preparedness, mandated by the Federal Aviation Administration. The scenario staged an imagined collision on the runway, initiating a rapid and coordinated crisis response effort by the participating emergency teams.
Although air travel is statistically safe, readiness for unthinkable events like the Air India Flight AI 171 crash is a duty that first responders do not take lightly. As detailed in a social media post from the Columbus Division of Fire, the exercise at Rickenbacker Airport had rescue crews reacting to an incident involving a commercial Airbus and a Cessna 172. Despite a delay in propane gas delivery that nixed the usage of a fire simulator, responders treated the event with utmost realism.
Helena Nova-Thatcher, the Emergency Preparedness Senior Specialist for the Columbus Regional Airport Authority, led the exercise, expressing satisfaction with the training's outcome. "I think it went well. We had really good feedback, we have some take aways that we are going to put into our improvement plan for the future," Nova-Thatcher told the Columbus Division of Fire. Reflecting on the crucial role of mutual aid and interagency cooperation, she underscored how airport resources alone are insufficient for such massive responses, making teamwork indispensable.
During the drill, volunteers were transformed into realistic casualties by the skilled hands of the Franklin County Emergency Management and Homeland Security Moulage team, equipped with theater-grade makeup. Participants tested the SALT - Sort, Assess, Lifesaving Interventions, Treatment/Transport - Mass Casualty Triage Algorithm, efficiently sorting the "victims" using color-coded ribbons. Captain Jacob Rotthoff from Columbus Fire, in charge of EMS response evaluation, praised the exercise's execution: "Things went smoothly," he explained. "Those scenes are going to be chaotic, especially at the early onset but things worked out and everyone performed well."
Another highlight from the training was the testing of the EMTrack system, designed to keep tabs on patients in mass casualty incidents. This system, which is required in all Ohio hospitals for such events, could be adopted by Columbus firefighters if proven effective. The EMTrack would allow them to scan victims' barcodes and swiftly input critical information, streamlining the triage and transport process and aiding with family reunification.
The day's events concluded with hands-on experience using the Fire Force Mobile ARFF Trainer, a realistic airliner fire simulator. Firefighters from Columbus and Madison Township honed their skills, with Lt. Brian Dudley from Engine 9, a veteran to such preparations, noting, "Nothin' Finer". The next emergency response drill is scheduled to take place at John Glenn Columbus International Airport in the coming year, ensuring ongoing vigilance and enhancement of life-saving skills.
