Emergency Medical Technician Craig Mouw works on mock victim as part of a bomb threat drill and disaster exercise Monday night at the Minnesota Veterans Home, Luverne. Rock County Emergency Management Director Kyle Oldre calls the surprise drill educational for all parties involved, which included the ambulance crew, local law enforcement, fire department, the Vets Home and Luverne High School peer helpers.
This is the first exercise of its kind in Luverne. The Vets Home staff knew a drill was going to take place, but not specifics. The Rock County Sheriff's Department knew details from the beginning for obvious safety and staffing reasons. Monday is the regular drill night for the fire department.
The drill started Monday at about 6:30 p.m. when a simulated bomb threat was called to the Vets Home. Law enforcement and Vets Home staff determined that they should evacuate the facility and simulated that by bringing all residents to commons areas. Peer helpers wore make-up and played bomb victims that the fire fighters had to find in the building. When they removed the "dead" or "wounded" from the facility, ambulance personnel assessed conditions and handled them appropriately. Part of the drill even included a fire fighter needing assistance in the building.
Photo by Sara Strong