6 A
SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2015
Drill
from 1A
Due to the low cloud cover
and poor flying conditions,
however, REACH did not send
a helicopter.
Eugene Springfield Fire also
sent a team to observe the drill.
“It’s amazing, actually, how
many people showed up,”
Rannow said.
She counted 25 high school
students, more than five adult
volunteers, a team of CERT
members, PeaceHealth staff,
teachers and volunteer photog-
raphers as participants.
The City of Florence’s pub-
lic information officer Megan
Messmer was also present.
“It should be an interesting
experience,” she said. “You
never know how you’ll react.”
The scenario provided a
glimpse into what a real disas-
ter could look like where there
are many people involved — in
this case, what would happen if
an explosion went off in a high
school auto shop.
Erica Westphal, of Stellar
Productions of Oregon, added
make-up, prosthetics and fake
injuries to the high-school aged
students who volunteered to be
victims.
The actors’ fake injuries var-
ied from slight bruising to red-
level injuries that needed
ambulance evacuation.
“You guys have never
looked better,” said WLAD
Interim
Manager
Brian
Burright to the made-up volun-
teers. “Please remember that
this is a simulation. We want
you guys to be realistic, but
you need to allow the response
teams to control the situation.”
The student actors also
included uninjured “friends”
who could help responders find
the most injured — or, as in a
real situation, confuse the
teams or get in the way.
Adult volunteers acted as
concerned or hysterical parents
trying to reach their teens.
Patrick Kirby, director of
facilities at the hospital, said to
the volunteers, “You may not
realize it, but what you are par-
ticipating in may actually save
a life down the road for our
first responders and hospital.
This is a drill to test our abili-
ties and find out our weakness-
es, both in our first responders
and the hospital’s capability for
mass triage.”
Although the hospital need-
ed the drill for their require-
ments, the drill gave valuable
experience to first responders.
“One thing I want to empha-
size is that this will be a real-
time event. We are going to
react as if it was an actual
catastrophe,” Kirby said.
When the drill began, FPD
officers were the first on the
scene. They assessed the situa-
tion and calmed the victims
and their friends until para-
medic help could arrive.
SVFR firefighters arrived
next. They carried hoses and
wore full gear into the shop, as
the
explosion
scenario
involved fire suppression and
smoke.
SVFR also took command
of the situation. Fire Chief Jim
Langborg and Fire Marshal
Sean Barrett created a base of
operations to direct dispatch
and coordinate the response.
The firefighters and WLAD
paramedics began treating the
victims. They had to decide
who needed immediate care,
who was not injured, who
could assist others and where
to take them.
Kirby said, “Today we are
testing the ability of first
responders to come here, do a
triage to find out who is injured
and who needs to go where.”
The responders set up a
triage center in the high school
parking lot.
Some students were bundled
onto stretchers and loaded into
ambulances.
“The second objective is for
our hospital,” Kirby said.
“We’re testing to see what will
happen when we have a big
surge of patients into the hospi-
tal and how the hospital will
respond to patients, family,
friends, media and those who
PHOTOS BY CHANTELLE MEYER/SIUSLAW NEWS
Siuslaw Valley Fire and Rescue firefighters (left) pull one
of the student volunteers to waiting paramedics during
the drill. Above, Florence Police officers help calm “con-
cerned parents,” played by volunteers.
Phone: (541) 997-1144
are there trying to find infor-
mation out about the victims.”
Once WLAD and CERT
vehicles delivered the students
to the hospital, the medical
center’s staff set up a triage
area in the lobby.
Students in the worse condi-
tion were then transported to
the emergency room.
Rannow said normal hospi-
tal Emergency Department
operations and patient care was
not affected by the drill.
A “hotwash” after the drill
allowed the hospital staff,
including physicians, to meet
with the response teams to dis-
cuss the results of the drill.
As a thank you to the stu-
dents and volunteers, Michael
Falter of City Lights Cinemas
donated 30 movie passes and
Dutch Bros. Coffee provided
30 coffee gift cards.
__________
ROSA’S 8TH ANNIVERSARY
Thank you to all our customers for your support!
Come in and celebrate with us,
OPEN MONDAY-FRIDAY
COME SEE OUR SPECIALS!
Follow Chantelle on Twitter
@SNews_Chantelle. Email her
at cmeyer@thesiuslawnews.com.
DENTURE SERVICES INC.
Here to serve
your denture needs:
Dentures
Immediate Dentures
Implant Dentures
Relines and Repairs
William Foster LD
Sherry, Offi ce Manager
FREE CONSULTATIONS
Monday-Thursday
10am - 2 pm
Relines and Repairs
Same Day
Or by special appointment
Financing: Citi Health Card
12 Month no Interest
524 Laurel St.
541-997-6054
Owner Robyn Smith
Robyn enjoys using beach treasures to create one-of-a-kind
gifts. She also enjoys designing and producing beautiful silver
jewelry to create unique treasures. Robyn was raised learning
the silver jewelry business from her parents, Jim and Charlene
Martin. Over a year ago, Robyn took ownership of the Silver
Sand Dollar from them.
Robyn is married and has two children. She and her family love
living on the Oregon Coast and feel blessed to live and work
in such a beautiful area.
Silver
Sand Dollar
Gallery Jewelry
& Gifts
1499 Bay Street
(Old Port Building)
541-997-0111
IRUPHUO\3UXGHQWLDO3DFL¿F3URSHUWLHV
Same great brokers...
same excellent service.
Customize your own
property search.
View active listings with our exclusive Market Watch
NEW LISTING
Approx. 3131 sq ft golf course
setting
4 Bdrm, 2 full 1 part. Ba
$499,994 BH7053 ML#15664540
NEW LISTING
4 car carport, workshop in
Greentrees
2 Bdrm, 1 Ba 924 +200 sq ft
$69,000 BH7043 ML#15330400
NEW LISTING
Located in the banana belt of Florence.
Eurpoean style Tudor chalet on .55
acre. Solid wood accents. 2 master
suites, cottage garden, deck, fountain
2 Bdrm, 2 Ba 1854 sq ft
$469,900 BH7071 ML#15372278
PRICE REDUCTION
In Idylewood with 3 bonus rooms
3 Bdrm, 2 Ba 2920 sq ft
$389,000 BH7074 ML#15545976
NEW LISTING
Gardener’s Paradise in private
Cul-de-Sac setting. Nice, clean
& updated throughout. Custom
terraced landscaping
3 Bdrm, 1 Ba 1236 sq ft
$109,000 BH7073 ML#15099363
NEW LISTING
Great buy, In-town. Fireplace,
Covered patio, New carpet
throughout, new blinds, new interior
paint and bark.
3 Bdrm, 2 Ba 1498 sq ft
$154,900 BH7047 ML#15031055
FEATURED LISTING
Investment or coastal living
2 Bdrm, 1 1/2 Ba 1004 sq ft
$85,000 BH6907 ML#15579270
FEATURED LISTING
Eugene property for investment
rental or full time living. Close to
shopping, schools & restaurants
3 Bdrm, 1 Ba 1144 sq ft
$249,000 BH7008 ML#15138501
FEATURED LISTING
Room for big toys/close to the beach
4 Bdrm, 3 Ba 3400 sq ft
$395,000 BH6624 ML#13189622
based on what is important to you!
• Search active listings by a geographic parameter
such as a zip code, address, or centered around a
particular point in a map area
• Easy-to-use interactive map with an adjustable radius
• Detailed color-coded summary of each property
To create your own Market Watch report,
go to www.RealEstateFlorence.com.
Florence Branch | 1875 Hwy 101 | Florence, OR | (541) 997-6000 | www.RealEstateFlorence.com
© 2014 BHH Affiliates, LLC. An independently operated subsidiary of HomeServices of America, Inc., a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate, and a franchisee of BHH Affiliates, LLC. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices and the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices symbol are registered service marks of HomeServices of America, Inc.® Equal Housing Opportunity.