By Patrick Burles - Lethbridge News Now

Emergency crews prepare for the worst with joint training exercise

Oct 25, 2018 | 4:41 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB — As the sad reality sets in that incidents like the van attacks in Edmonton and Toronto are becoming more common world wide, emergency services in Lethbridge gathered at Exhibition Park to prepare for what was once considered unthinkable.

Members of the Lethbridge Police Service, Lethbridge Fire/EMS, Lethbridge 911, and Alberta Health Services coordinated for the joint disaster emergency response exercise Wednesday, Oct. 24.

In the scenario they devised, a man drives a large van into a crowd of people during Whoop-Up Days, causing mass casualties and fatalities, before exiting the vehicle and opening fire on the crowd. He then follows those fleeing the scene into the Main Pavilion of Exhibition Park, continuing to fire at victims and taking a number of hostages. As part of the scenario, police say they encounter what appears to be an improvised explosive device on one of the doors to the building, while also sorting through information pouring in from 911 calls.

“We can’t think we’re going to be immune to it,” said LPS Sgt. Bruce Hagel, noting the long list of mass shooting incidents. “We have to be prepared as best we can, train as much as we can. There’s going to be some very good things that we’re going to do, there’s going to be some things that are identified as we can do better and that’s what it’s all about.”

During such an incident, Hagel pointed to communications as being one of the most significant areas that will be tested – coordinating not only between various police assets, but also those of the other agencies involved in the situation.

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“You can imagine the amount of information that’s going to be coming in,” Hagel explained. “Coordinating all that and what is factual, what has to be relayed to those first responders on the ground, to our incident commanders, what’s a priority… I wouldn’t say it’s definitely a weakness, but it’s going to be something that is going to be so key in success of an operation like this.”

Gerrit Sinke, the Deputy Chief of Training and Safety for Fire/EMS, also addressed the media, noting that they are trying to take lessons learned from high risk events dating back to Columbine in 1999. He stated that their crews would be tasked with setting up a unified command post with police, while paramedics would follow the first wave of police officers into the scene, assisting victims as they go.

“The training event that we have running today is truly one of the most challenging events that our first responders are ever going to face,” said Sinke. “We’re always going to be limited with the amount of resources that we have available, dealing with these types of things. So, just limited resources that have to do an incredible amount of work in a very short period time if we want to save lives.”

After triaging those at the scene, the exercise then extends to the Chinook Regional Hospital, where they will be practicing their procedures for a mass casualty event known as a ‘code orange.’ AHS South Zone communications director Gwen Wirth explained that patients will be transported to the emergency department at the hospital for treatment.

“Being able to participate in something like this with our community partners is a great exercise, and it allows us to look at where our gaps are and to identify those prior to actually being in that situation,” stated Wirth.

As for what you should do in the event that you find yourself in the midst of an emergency situation, Hagel says there are a few things to focus on, with one being a clear priority.

“Their safety is going to be number one – clearing of areas, getting to a safe spot. Obviously, if anybody has any information that is going to be relevant, to relay that to a person in authority… [and] letting our emergency services workers do what they’re trained to do.”