Saturday, the skills of first responders were put to the test during a drill that simulated a plane accident at Bradley International Airport.
“Emergency response is a very important component of what we do here at the airport,” said Kevin Dillon, the airport’s executive director.
The scenario was a pilot reporting a fire in the cockpit as he approached the airport. He landed, but veered off the runway. As emergency crews approached, smoke poured out of the plane.
“Some passengers will escape the aircraft, some passengers will still be on the aircraft. The aircraft will be engulfed in fire,” said Dillon.
It was up to the medical crews first on the scene to save them. The 25 agencies taking part in the drill faced a mass-casualty situation.
“It brings these teams together, everybody works together,” said John Lombardi, a member of Granby’s C.E.R.T, one of 25 agencies that participated in the drill.
Those participants included firefighters, paramedics, airport personnel, and dozens of volunteers who laid in a field, awaiting triage.
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“Firefighting skills, search and rescue skills, and even the hospitals will be here to practice their patient traffic capability,” said Dillon.
As paramedics and other first responders got hands-on training, they said the biggest take-away was the need to communicate to one another.
“So everyone knows what helps coming, what helps available, and spreading the resources,” said Lombardi.
The airport is required by the FAA to conduct live drills once every three years. Dillon said they conduct tabletop exercises during off years.
