Mercer County Schools, First Responders Prepare For The Worst In Mock Bus Crash
Photo: Mercer County Emergency Management
Local first responders took part in a special training exercise organized by the Mercer County School District to prepare school staff and emergency personnel for a school bus disaster with injured students on Monday, May 20. The exercise included a flipped over school bus at the Mercer County Fairgrounds.
Robert Moore
Herald Staff
[email protected]
Local first responders as well as officials and staff from Mercer County Schools prepared for a worst case scenario on Monday, May 20, when they participated in a first-of-its kind mock bus accident drill at the Mercer County Fairgrounds. The school district provided two buses for the training exercise, including a decommissioned bus that was flipped over and filled with smoke.
The drill was announced on the anniversary of one of the deadliest drunk-driving accidents in American history. On May 14, 1988, a driver crashed into a church bus, killing 27 people. Mercer Superintendent Jason Booher survived that crash.
Booher told Phil Pendleton of WKYT that drills like the one held Monday can help prevent future tragedies.
“This is one of the positive things,” Booher told WKYT. “That is the educational piece I call it. We are able to educate everyone to be more efficient if something like this occurs again.”
The Harrodsburg Herald/Robert Moore
Judge-Executive Sarah Steele, a former school employee, took part in a drill for drivers, in which they secured students in a smoke-filled bus.
In one drill, first responders transported volunteers portraying victims from a smoke-filled bus to receive medical treatment. In another drill, bus drivers had to account for and secure students after an accident.
“Originally, this was just a training exercise for the school bus drivers,” said Mercer County Emergency Management Director Brad Cox. “We were able to incorporate the first responders and do a county-wide drill. It lets us work together and gives us a chance to fortify our real-world capabilities.”
The drills were designed to be deliberately confusing, to closely reflect what could happen when something went wrong. Adding to the confusion, the Harrodsburg Fire Department had to leave the drill to respond to a real call.
“It was a unique training opportunity for our fire crew,” said Harrodsburg Fire Chief Michael Cox.
Photo: Mercer County Emergency Management
First responders transport a volunteer portraying an accident victim from a smoke-filled bus for medical treatment during an emergency drill held at Mercer County Fairgrounds on Monday, May 20.
Other agencies that participated included the Harrodsburg Police Department, AmeriPro EMS and the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office.
“I enjoy doing these things,” said Dep. Wes Gaddis. “”It gives everybody an opportunity to see what their jobs are. It’s a valuable training experience.”
