It might look like there’s an emergency at Aberdeen Regional Airport on Tuesday, June 6, but all the sirens and lights will be part of a simulated exercise that morning.
It will begin around 8:30 a.m. and include not only Aberdeen Fire & Rescue and ambulance crews, but also the Aberdeen Police Department, Brown County coroner, Brown County Emergency Management, Avera St. Luke’s, Sanford Aberdeen Regional Hospital, Ride Line, Delta Air Lines and the National Weather Service.
Aberdeen Transportation Director Rich Krokel said the exercise will simulate a crash of a CRJ200 regional jet with 42 passengers. According to the details of the simulation, the crew aboard the jet notices an issue with the left side landing gear, which collapses upon landing. That collapse leads to ruptured fuel cells and an immediate fire.
A bus filled with hay bales will be used to simulate the plane, and volunteers will simulate a variety of injuries, which will allow emergency personnel to assess and prioritize treatment of injuries using triage protocols. Those with the most serious injuries are taken by ambulance to one of the two hospitals.
The simulation, which is required three years, is expected to last about two hours.
Volunteers who are willing to pose as injured passengers can sign up at abrexercise2023@gmail.com. Name and contact information should be provided and all volunteers must be 18 or have parental consent.
