Disaster Training In Mobile

Terrorism Alabama 3 Dmat Members of Alabama 3 Disaster Medical Assistance Team are preparing for the worst.

by Chad Petri

Published: Thu, May 07, 2009 - 3:30 pm CST Last Updated: Thu, May 07, 2009 - 3:51 pm CST

They have fake wounds, but what these teams are learning about is very real. Members of the Alabama 3 Disaster Medical Assistance Team, or D-MAT, are carting actors playing wounded people to a military aircraft. Similar drills are being held in two other states. The scenario: terrorists simultaneously blow up chemical tanks in Alabama, Mississippi and Florida.

“To test us and our efficiency and setting up a base of operations and provide care to the public,” says Chief Training Officer Philip Thomas. Organizers say one of the best parts of a drill like this is a chance is allowing them to work with agencies they normally wouldn't get a chance to. In this drill, team members have to coordinate what they know with military triage procedures.

“So this gives us the chance to figure out what their skills are and work with them as well as determine how they do things so we can adapt our system to work better with them,” says Deputy Commander Jeff Turner. The walking wounded volunteers are lead out first, followed by those on stretchers.

“They have more seats in the aircraft than litter carrying ability so you want to get your walking patients to the aircraft and get them secured first,” says Turner. Organizers say the drill went well and allowed them to look for weaknesses. The victims were flown to Little Rock Arkansas to take part in another disaster training exercise there. The Alabama-3 Disaster Medical Assistance Team is looking for help. If you are a trained medical professional and would like to volunteer you can contact them at their website.

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