Train/School Bus Collision Scenario Emphasizes EMS Teams and Community Agencies Working Together

Kansas City, MO (PRWEB) November 6, 2006 -- LifeFlight Eagle, western Missouri's nonprofit air ambulance program www.lifeflighteagle.org, will participate in an emergency preparedness exercise focusing on a mock train/school bus collision that will train participating local and visiting agencies to work together under "non-critical" conditions while practicing skills required in actual critical scenarios. The event takes place in Independence, Missouri, on November 7 in cooperation with the Independence Fire Department, Union Pacific and numerous other EMS agencies.

Local and national EMS and community observers will have the opportunity to visualize the reality of a disaster scenario, while first responder participants, including LifeFlight Eagle, will have the opportunity to exercise procedures not used on a daily basis.

"School Bus accidents are unusual," said LifeFlight Eagle CEO Christine Zalar. "But they do happen." Zalar recalled a May, 2005 accident in Liberty, Missouri, involving a school bus with 58 children on board. The bus collided with two vehicles parked at a red light killing both drivers of the vehicles, while many children on the bus were injured in the accident. Several children were transported by LifeFlight Eagle. http://www.mylfe.org/MediaCenter.htm.

"Preparation for such events on the ground and from the air is essential," Zalar said.

While LifeFlight Eagle is often requested for emergency transports of patients from scenes similar to that of the mock training disaster, Zalar says another important aspect of the air ambulance service is its commitment to bring medical crews to disaster scenes even when transports are not needed.

"Disaster scenarios generally need all the EMS hands they can get so we make our crews available, in a mutual aid capacity, to provide help on the ground as well," Zalar said. "LifeFlight Eagle helicopters can also be used to bring equipment or experts to the scene."

"Using information documented during this scenario, agencies involved will be able to establish an after-action report which will lead to the implementation of training programs to improve the areas identified as being deficient during this exercise," said Chief Joseph Lay, Independence Battalion Fire Chief for EMS, Safety and Wellness.

The event will take place in Independence, Missouri, 8 am – 12 pm, November 7, as part of the 32nd Annual National Association for Pupil Transportation (NAPT) Conference and Trade Show. The event will be staged at Pacific Street between Lexington and Walnut. NAPT is a nonprofit organization supporting an industry of more than 475,000 people who transport more than 24 million children every day. This conference attracts pupil transportation professionals from across the country and is considered the industry's showcase event.

View Liberty bus accident footage: http://www.mylfe.org/MediaCenter.htm

LifeFlight Eagle is a non-profit organization serving a 150-mile radius around Kansas City.
www.lifeflighteagle.org

For more information please contact LifeFlight Eagle, 500 NW Richards Road, Kansas City, Missouri, 64116. Contact Steve Sanborn at 816.507.3351.

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