On Saturday, June 8, the San Luis Valley Regional Airport conducted its Triannual Full Scale Exercise to test the mutual aid response to a simulated mass casualty scenario. The exercise consisted of a mock plane crash to test response readiness and coordination abilities. Coordinated by Alamosa County Emergency Manager, Eric Treinen, the event was successful due to the cooperation of several other emergency response entities including, SLV Regional Airport, Denver Air Connection, SLV Airport ARFF, SLV Regional Health, Alamosa County Sheriff Department, Adams State University, Alamosa Fire Department, Alamosa EMS, SLV RETAC, Conejos County EMS, Alamosa County Coroner's Office and Alamosa County Administration. FEMA's NED (National Exercise Department) and FEMA Region 8 assisted in the planning with Emergency Management and the Airport. The event was also supported by Emergency Managers from Conejos, Costilla and Rio Grande Counties.
While the event was only simulated, volunteer "actors" played the part of injured passengers which assisted emergency responders in practicing for catastrophic scenarios. Simulated injuries varied from shock, to broken bones, and even loss of life. Once triaged on site at the "scene of the crash" at the airport, the injured were taken to SLV Regional Hospital for additional simulated training for emergency hospital staff. A mock press conference was held in practice for a real-life event. Once the simulated events were completed, volunteers participated in a debriefing comment and question session in review of the event. The debriefing provided great feedback and additional learning opportunities from the exercise.
