May 31, 2023
Preparing for the worst
Around Town
First responders from throughout the region take part in an intense, immersive training exercise to become certified Disaster Medical Specialists
AAUW St. Charles presents 2023 local scholarships. Pg. 3
By Brett Auten
Features
Rubble everywhere. Busted concrete and twisted steel. A woman pleads for help due to an injured arm. That was the scenario last week in St. Peters as paramedics, firefighters, and first responders from throughout the region came to take part in a unique and challenging environment to provide care to those who are injured. Last week in St. Charles County, first responders from throughout the region took part in an intense, immersive training exercise to become certified Disaster Medical Specialists charged with operating in these high-acuity scenarios if the need arises. The Medical Specialist training was facilitated by Disaster Medical Solutions, and it included some classroom work. But the fun part came at the skill stations where paramedics and firefighters put their experience to the test amid adverse conditions hosted at St. Charles County Ambulance District’s headquarters facility in St. Peters, where St. Louis Metro Task Force 1 Leaders stacked shipping containers, twisted metal, concrete slabs, and cement sewer tubes to create a realistic environment for attendees to hone the skills being taught. “They’re astonished by what they’re learning and what they are able to do now,” SCCAD Deputy Chief Jeremey Hollrah said. “I was talking to one earlier and he said, it’s the same (training) that we do, it’s just in a bad place. I know I can start an IV in a living room. Now I know I can do it upside down, leaning through rebar on somebody that I can’t even see.” The structures were reconfigured through-
MoDOT restricts section of Veterans Memorial Parkway during construction. Pg. 4
Recipe, Movie & Sudoku. Pg. F-1 CLASSIFIEDS AND HOME & GARDEN. Pg. F-2 /F-3 Moore On Life, Lifestyle & Crossword. Pg. F-4
Weather FRIDAY Partly Cloudy 92/69 SATURDAY Partly Cloudy 91/67 Photo by Brett Auten Last week in St. Charles County, first responders from throughout the region took part in an intense, immersive training exercise to become certified Disaster Medical Specialists charged with operating in these high-acuity scenarios if the need arises.
out the week-long training to represent both man made and natural disasters. “The inclusion of real-world debris such as rebar, concrete, building components, and furniture, along with the addition of smoke, add to the realism of these exercises.” Hollrah, who also serves as one of the Task Force Leaders for the Urban Search & Rescue Team, said. “Throughout the exercises, paramedics and firefighters will train
on confined space maneuvers, airway access, blast injuries, field amputations, hemorrhage control and much more.” The four-day training culminated in a full field night exercise which included live patient volunteers with simulated injuries. “All week they keep building up to different skills and then tonight they bring it all See ’PREPARING’ page 2
Serving St. Louis, St. Charles and Lincoln Counties | FREE Online at mycnews.com | Vol. 25 No. 22 | 636-379-1775
SUNDAY Sunny 89/64
READ US ONLINE!