Sep 15, 2022

Kansas airport drill seeks to prepare for worst-case scenario

Posted Sep 15, 2022 6:00 AM
An Ellis County EMS worker triages an NCK Tech student portraying a crash victim during a Hays Regional Airport drill Wednesday. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post<br>
An Ellis County EMS worker triages an NCK Tech student portraying a crash victim during a Hays Regional Airport drill Wednesday. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post

By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post

The Hays Regional Airport had a crash emergency drill Tuesday afternoon.

The scenario portrayed a fully loaded SkyWest airplane crashing at the airport because of an engine fire.

The FAA requires the airport to complete the drill every three years.

Dozens of first responders from law enforcement, EMS and fire, as well as airport officials, participated in the drill. NCK Tech nursing students portrayed crash victims.

One of the first firefighters on the scene of the crash drill at the airport Wednesday checks a simulated victim. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post
One of the first firefighters on the scene of the crash drill at the airport Wednesday checks a simulated victim. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post

Fire and EMS staff were tasked with responding to the scene, putting out the mock fire and triaging the crash victims for treatment.

Jamie Salter, airport director, said she thought the drill went well.

"Agencies take it very seriously when they come out," she said. "I think it is very advantageous for them when they come out and run through this in the event that it actually happens."

The airport has extensive emergency and safety protocols, and she said she hopes that will help flyers feel safer about taking to the skies.

Many agencies participated in the drill and dozens of people. These included Hays Regional Airport, the airport's fixed-based operator, TSA, SkyWest, Hays Fire Department, Ellis County Rural Fire, Hays Police Department, Ellis County Sheriff, Kansas Highway Patrol, Ellis County EMS, EagleMed, Kansas Department Health and Environment, HaysMed,  First Care Clinic and NCK Tech nursing.

A school bus was used to simulate a SkyWest aircraft that crashed at Hays Regional Airport. Firefighters use a water cannon to simulate extinguishing the fire as smoke from a smoke machine rolls out from under the bus. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post
A school bus was used to simulate a SkyWest aircraft that crashed at Hays Regional Airport. Firefighters use a water cannon to simulate extinguishing the fire as smoke from a smoke machine rolls out from under the bus. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post
Firefighters escort crash victims off of the simulated plane and complete an initial triage of patients. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post
Firefighters escort crash victims off of the simulated plane and complete an initial triage of patients. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post
Patient injuries were simulated with fake blood. A further list of symptoms and injuries was pinned to a piece of paper on the NCK-Tech students' shirts. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post
Patient injuries were simulated with fake blood. A further list of symptoms and injuries was pinned to a piece of paper on the NCK-Tech students' shirts. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post
This NCK-Tech student is portraying a patient with a compound fracture of the leg. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post
This NCK-Tech student is portraying a patient with a compound fracture of the leg. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post
An EMS worker ties a red band around a patient's arm to designate a critical injury. Patients were grouped into red (critical condition), yellow (serious condition), green (non-life threatening condition), black (dead at the scene). Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post
An EMS worker ties a red band around a patient's arm to designate a critical injury. Patients were grouped into red (critical condition), yellow (serious condition), green (non-life threatening condition), black (dead at the scene). Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post
An EMS worker triages a patient during the airport drill on Tuesday. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post
An EMS worker triages a patient during the airport drill on Tuesday. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post
In an actual emergency at the airport, EagleMed staff would assist in triaging patients if they are not out on a call. NCK Tech students speak with an EagleMed staff member after participating in the drill. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post
In an actual emergency at the airport, EagleMed staff would assist in triaging patients if they are not out on a call. NCK Tech students speak with an EagleMed staff member after participating in the drill. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post
The drill included transporting victims to a nearby staging area away from the crash scene. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post
The drill included transporting victims to a nearby staging area away from the crash scene. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post
EMS staff further tend to patients before they are transported from the airport, including a student on the right who is portraying a pregnant woman. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post
EMS staff further tend to patients before they are transported from the airport, including a student on the right who is portraying a pregnant woman. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post
EMS staff complete tags that would be attached to patients in a mass casualty incident to help medical staff more quickly identify patients' needs. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post
EMS staff complete tags that would be attached to patients in a mass casualty incident to help medical staff more quickly identify patients' needs. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post
A firefighter helps with triage during the drill. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post
A firefighter helps with triage during the drill. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post
Although emergency drills are established to ready first responders to save lives, this student's triage tag is a stark reminder that first responders may have to deal with death at a crash scene. This NCK Tech student has been triaged code black, which is dead at the scene. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post
Although emergency drills are established to ready first responders to save lives, this student's triage tag is a stark reminder that first responders may have to deal with death at a crash scene. This NCK Tech student has been triaged code black, which is dead at the scene. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post
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