Three Rivers College will hold its biannual mass casualty training event from 8-11 a.m. May 2 in the Bess Activity Center on the Poplar Bluff Campus of Three Rivers College. The training helps prepare students in participating programs for a mass casualty emergency such as a natural disaster or terrorist attack.
Students from several fields of study will participate in the training, including nursing, EMT, and paramedic students. The training will also receive support from Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center, Black River Medical Center, the VA Medical Center, Butler County Ambulance, Medic One, Ripley County Ambulance, Stoddard County, Clear Water Ambulance, AirEvac Lifeteam, and Survival Flight.
In keeping with the training’s focus on realism, the students themselves will coordinate much of the event, with students serving in leadership and command/control positions. The College is also keeping the type of “disaster” under wraps, so that students have no chance to prepare beforehand.
Local news outlets are invited to attend, but will be treated according to crisis procedures while the training is active. Participating students and staff will not answer questions until the training is over, and reporters are asked not to disrupt the training while it is in progress. Reporters wishing to cover the event should contact the Three Rivers Communication Department at 573-840-9660 or email psitzes@trcc.edu beforehand.
