Addison stages mass casualty drill along Swift Road
High school students got a chance to see firefighters and paramedics in action Wednesday during a mass casualty drill conducted by the Addison Fire Protection District.
Authorities staged a mock accident at the Technology Center of DuPage along Swift Road that involved a bus and several cars, Deputy Fire Chief Joseph Leone said. Roughly 30 "victims" with fake injuries were involved in the drill.
The exercise gave first responders a chance to practice extrications and to perform triage to determine which victims needed treatment first based on the severity of their injuries.
"It's our exercise to test our capabilities of the Addison Fire Protection District and surrounding towns," Leone said.
Rescue teams from several communities, including Bloomingdale, Lombard, Villa Park and Elmhurst, also participated.
In addition, the drill gave students at the Technology Center who are studying to become firefighters and emergency medical technicians a chance to shadow the professionals as they worked at the scene.
Cosmetology students from the school played most of the victims and provided the makeup for their fake injuries.