Emergency simulation to be carried out at Hervey Bay Airport
The public has been alerted ahead of a “chaotic and confronting” emergency simulation set to be carried out at Hervey Bay Airport.
Fraser Coast
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A simulated emergency exercise will be carried out at Hervey Bay Airport on Saturday.
The public is being alerted to the exercise, in which emergency personnel will attend to people playing the role of “wounded and deceased passengers” at what appears to be the site of an airplane crash.
The exercise will be held to evaluate how well plans and procedures operate in an emergency.
Fraser Coast Regional Council Airport Manager John Barnden said this was a great opportunity for emergency services and airport staff to come together to test how well everyone communicates and to identify improvements.
“Hervey Bay Police, Queensland Fire and Emergency Services, State Emergency Service, Queensland Ambulance Service, and airport staff will all have to work together to manage a simulated crash of an A320 aircraft,” he said.
Playing the role of the injured and distraught relatives will be up to 100 volunteers from SES and ZPAC Theatre.
“This exercise will be very chaotic and confronting, requiring ambulance teams to offer medical assistance to passengers with varying degrees of injuries, emotional distress, and even fatalities,” Mr Barnden said.
“Airport staff will be responsible for guiding passengers to safety zones, co-ordinating communication, implementing emergency procedures, and managing distraught relatives, family, and friends.
“Firefighters will also be tested by having to respond to simulated aircraft fires and structural fires, while police will be managing crowd control, security, and documentation of the incident.
“Even though we all have our roles to play, it’s crucial that we all work together to manage an emergency, maximise efficiency, minimise confusion, and ultimately save lives.
“While we hope we are never confronted with a scenario like this, it’s important to be prepared and to test the Fraser Coast Local Disaster Management Plan.
“We look forward to participating in this emergency exercise so we can better evaluate our preparedness for an airport emergency and identify areas for improvement to enhance the safety and security of our airport.”
The mock crash will take place at Astro Aero adjacent to the Hervey Bay Regional Airport from 10am.
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