Archbold Mitchell and Community Partners Hold Mass Casualty Incident Drill

Archbold Mitchell and first responders in Mitchell County held a Mass Casualty Incident (MCI) drill on Thursday. The drill simulated an accident in Camilla that resulted in a large number of injuries, the first responders' response to the scene and Archbold Mitchell’s readiness to treat the influx of patients.

Among the participants in the exercise were the Mitchell County Emergency Management Agency, Camilla Police Department, Camilla Fire Department, Mitchell County Sheriff’s Office and AmeriPro EMS.

Students from Mitchell County High School, Baconton Community Charter School and Westwood Schools served as the mock victims during the drill. Each wore a card describing their condition, as imagined during the drill. Information on the cards, such as where they were found, symptoms, mental state and vital signs, allowed first responders and Archbold Mitchell team members to accurately triage patients and provide care.

The drill’s scenario involved a small-engine aircraft crashing after taking off from the Camilla airport, leading to the activation of a countywide emergency management plan.

While Archbold often holds drills for scenarios within the hospital, Thursday’s drill allowed the organization and its partners to practice a unified response to a mass casualty incident in the community.

“We are grateful for the work of the Archbold team, cooperation of our partners and participation of our student volunteers,” said Sara Sullivan, RN, BSN, Nurse Manager of the Archbold Mitchell Emergency Department, who helped to direct the drill. “A response to a scenario like this requires every organization in our community to be on the same page and working towards a common goal. Today’s successful drill is a testament to that shared commitment to readiness across Mitchell County.”