Cutting-edge exercises highlight Purdue's emergency preparedness
June 19, 2014
 |
|
Members of Purdue University Police and the Purdue University Fire Department conducted functional emergency training exercises on June 12-13 and Monday. Here, during one of the exercises, members of the Fire Department examine a mannequin with simulated injuries. (Purdue University photo/Mark Simons) |
It's a scenario almost as unthinkable as it is horrific: How do first responders reach shooting victims who need life-saving treatment while a perpetrator is still at large?
As difficult as the question is, it must be answered, Purdue campus safety experts say. During the past week, Purdue police and Purdue firefighters have completed several drills to test their training and responsiveness to such an emergency.
"This sort of situation is something that you hope you never see in your career," says Kevin Ply, Purdue's fire chief.
"But if you don't practice to respond and practice frequently, you're going to fail miserably if it happens, and that would be catastrophic. That's why we are constantly evolving our emergency response procedures -- you hope you never have to use them, but you absolutely must have them in place."
The drills took place June 12-13 and Monday. Purdue's fire and police departments used the entire Engineering Administration Building, which is vacant and scheduled to undergo demolition this summer. The drills required police officers to apprehend an active shooter while firefighters, who are also trained as emergency medical technicians and paramedics, attended to mannequins with simulated injuries.
During the drills, the firefighters were required to quickly decide which victims needed immediate medical attention and evacuation, and which needed quick-but-simple treatment -- such as a tourniquet -- and placement in a safe area.
The University's three shifts of nine firefighters each participated in the drills, which included different details each time. Members of all four police shifts, made up of four to nine officers each, participated in the drills once.
The drills' law enforcement component fulfilled Purdue's intent to conduct active-shooter drills every year, but the concept of training to treat victims during an incident is new, say Ply and Police Chief John Cox. The idea, they say, is to prepare for a situation in which timely response to victims may be the key to saving their lives.
 |
|
Members of Purdue University Police and the Purdue University Fire Department conducted functional emergency training exercises on June 12-13 and Monday. Here, members of the Police Department are shown outside the Engineering Administration Building during the training. (Purdue University photo/Mark Simons) |
The drills allowed the University to hone its resources, which are already well poised to respond to such a terrible situation.
Purdue is one of only a dozen universities in the country with its own fire department and emergency medical services. That means, Cox and Ply say, that medical first responders can reach victims more quickly -- and potentially save more lives -- due to the quick response time.
"We're very proud that we have the capabilities to provide the fastest possible public safety response in the event of an emergency," Cox says. "As law enforcement, we can do what we need to do knowing that our firefighters are working to save lives while we act to stop the threat, and that's a huge benefit to our campus community."
In addition to practicing emergency responses and leveraging resources, the University is taking even more steps to address emergency preparedness.
During the past year, Purdue's Fire Department has developed standard operating guidelines based on Tactical Emergency Casualty Care, which is a federally endorsed policy for emergency medical service personnel. It includes best practices for emergency medical responses during high-risk situations.
Purdue campus safety officials will improve the standard operating guidelines based on lessons learned during the drills, Cox and Ply say.
 |
|
Members of Purdue University Police and the Purdue University Fire Department conducted functional emergency training exercises on June 12-13 and Monday. Here, members of both departments discuss the exercises outside the Engineering Administration Building. (Purdue University photo/Mark Simons) |
Further, later this summer, Purdue may look to use other offline facilities -- such as Grissom Hall, which is being renovated -- to conduct joint exercises with responders from the City of West Lafayette. This would simulate an incident during which the agencies would have the opportunity to work together.
In the end, all the practicing and planning keeps one goal in sight.
"We want to be prepared for any possible scenario," Ply says. "It's all about keeping our campus safe."
Writer: Amanda Hamon Kunz, 49-61325, ahamon@purdue.edu
