Simulated bomb scare gives Ivins first responders, medical students practice for the real thing

IVINS — A bomb went off in the cafeteria of Rocky Vista University in Ivins on April 29. Santa Clara-Ivins Police and Fire personnel scrambled to deliver aid, as did several doctors and emergency medical technicians. 

A “victim” lies under “debris” from a simulated bombing as part of the Rocky Vista University’s annual mass casualty drill with local law enforcement and first responders, Ivins, Utah, April 29. 2023 | Photo courtesy Santa Clara-Ivins Fire and Rescue, St. George News

And they were all thankful it was a simulation.

The medical school and the city’s law enforcement and fire services held their annual joint mass casualty drill the weekend after last, simulating a bomb attack and its aftermath. The Washington County Bomb Squad also joined in.

The event is a chance for both first responders and third-year students learning to be first responders and doctors to take part in a worst-case scenario without the actual bloodshed.

Tables, chairs and debris were strewn about campus on top of some students and staff posing as victims, complete with gruesome make-up simulating bloody injuries. 

“We had an area of the school set aside like a bomb had gone off,” Rocky Vista Director of Campus Operations Kristine Jenkins said. “The students loved it.”

Police initially moved about with weapons drawn to ensure the scene was clear of any additional danger, followed by the bomb squad. 

Once an “all clear” sounded, SCI Fire and EMTs moved in along with the Rocky Vista students to triage the injured. 

The most severely “injured” were then moved into a simulated emergency room, but replaced in most cases with the university’s mannequin-like body simulators that are capable of being cut open and operated on. 

Students operate in a simulated emergency room during Rocky Vista University’s annual mass casualty drill with local law enforcement and first responders, Ivins, Utah, April 29. 2023 | Photo courtesy Santa Clara-Ivins Fire and Rescue, St. George News

The skills practiced will be useful in other kinds of situations that first responders hope don’t happen but still have to be prepared for like large wildfires, mass shootings, natural disasters, terrorist attacks or multi-vehicle crashes, officials said.

And there were surprises in this go around.

“Some of the organizers thought it was more chaotic than they thought it would be, which is a good thing in a simulation,” Jenkins said.

There were 100 students in their last year of studies participating, with 25 playing “victims” and the rest practicing the skills they will use after they graduate. Jenkins said while play-acting may have an element of fun, the students clamor more to play doctor.

“The students really like being involved in the treatment side as they’re learning.”

It was also a learning experience for the SCI fire and police teams. The university has an agreement with the cities of Ivins and Santa Clara as well as the county to aid if an actual mass casualty event occurs. 

“I feel that through the drills that we have with Rocky Vista, we are building up a great relationship,” SCI Fire and Rescue Division Chief Con Fulde told St. George News. “We have the opportunity to help teach the students real-world skills. We love to have hands-on training for Santa Clara-Ivins Fire and Rescue personnel.”

Santa Clara-Ivins Fire Department Division Chief Con Fulde helps a student as part of Rocky Vista University’s annual mass casualty drill with local law enforcement and first responders, Ivins, Utah, April 29. 2023 | Photo courtesy Santa Clara-Ivins Fire and Rescue, St. George News

There are memorandums of understanding with the nearby Vista School and the Southern Utah Veterans Home to be a safe site if a dangerous situation happens at those places. 

One instance of Rocky Vista students aiding in a mass casualty event was when Chinese-speaking students were sent to aid victims of a tourist bus crash that killed four and injured more than a dozen people near Bryce Canyon in September 2019. 

But Jenkins said the big advantage of having the joint exercises with local law enforcement and fire is the students get a few extra educators. 

“They’re just really willing teachers.”

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2023, all rights reserved.

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