Training for the Unexpected: Logan County EMS Takes Part in Multi-Agency Mock Drill

On Wednesday, September 16, Logan County EMS took part in a multi-agency mock emergency drill at Western Plains Energy in Oakley. The exercise brought together several local and regional agencies to practice responding to a simulated emergency at the ethanol plant. Participating in the drill were Western Plains Energy, Gove County Emergency Management, Logan County EMS, Logan County Fire, and the Kansas Highway Patrol (KHP).

The mock scenario involved a truck that had caught fire with a burned driver and then a firefighter with smoke inhalation requiring emergency medical treatment. The scenario provided responders with an opportunity to practice everything from scene safety and fire suppression to patient assessment, treatment, communication, and coordination between agencies.

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  Logan Co FD works on putting out the mock truck fire.

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  Logan Co AEMT B Kelly tends to the burned truck driver.

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  Logan Co FF Kevin Uhrich plays a smoke inhalation victim in the mock drill.

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  Logan County EMS crew and Oakley FF partake in the mock accident at WPE.

*Click on the picture to make it bigger and read the caption.

Having multiple agencies participate in a single exercise is an important part of emergency preparedness. Each agency brings a different role and area of expertise to an incident, and drills like this allow responders and WPE staff to practice communicating and working together before they are faced with a real emergency.

For Logan County EMS, exercises like this are an important part of staying prepared. While no one hopes to respond to an incident like the one portrayed in the drill, practicing these scenarios helps crews identify challenges, strengthen communication, and build confidence in their ability to respond when it matters most.

We appreciate Western Plains Energy for hosting the exercise and all of the agencies and personnel who took part.