Emergency  personnel remove "injured" person from plane – photo 250NEWS

click on video icon at left for brief video.

Prince George, B.C.-  The Prince George Airport was the scene of a  mock disaster training exercise this morning  and  24 students from Duchess Park Secondary played a key  role.

Called “Operation Bounce”, the scenario  was that  a West Jet flight, with  24 people on board,  had  experienced an unexpected “hard landing” which resulted in  numerous injuries to the  passengers on board the flight.  The  RCMP provided the “plane” for this exercise and  the grade 12 theatre arts/drama students  put their skills, and that of their  teacher,  to work. 

With carefully crafted makeup,  the students  presented a variety of injuries to  the emergency personnel  responding to the  mock incident.  Compound fractures,   heart attack,  lacerations,  serious internal injuries,  shock  and stress,  all  there for the  first responders to  handle.

Superintendent of  Emergency Services at YXS Darryl Moulder says  the live  exercise  provides an opportunity for the Airport  Emergency team  to hone it’s skills and  working relationships with outside agencies, such as the Prince George Fire Department, B.C. Ambulance  service  and the RCMP to present a coordinated response should there be  an emergency.

Moulder says once the  exercise is complete, they will review all the notes that have been taken, and will  identify gaps or issues which need to be addressed.

Below left, emergency personnel attend to "injured" passenger,  while at right, Duchess Park theatre arts students  "act out" their  injuries.  photos 250NEWS