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The town park on Fifth Avenue, Kenbridge appeared to be the sight of a mass casualty Saturday, Oct. 19. In fact, it was a mass casualty incident management class.

The event, hosted by the Virginia Office of EMS (Emergency Management Services), is designed to provide first responders and other public officials methods to manage a large scale working accident with multiple victims as well as triage patients involved.

Leading the days events were Chris Craft, course coordinator and lead instructor; Bubby Bish, co-instructor; and Dr. Lou Stringer serving as course monitor.

According to Craft, the event was the work of a six-monthlong planning and organizational effort.

The days scenario for the event was a Parker Oil truck driver, who suffered a heart attack, crossed over the yellow line, hit a school bus and caused the bus to go through the fence at the park hitting multiple bystanders which created a total of 87 patients. The scenario was based off a Kenston Forest school bus was involved in an accident on U.S. Route 40, outside of Kenbridge, this past summer.

Class participants consisted of 16 students from Victoria Fire and Rescue, Meherrin Fire and Rescue, Alberta Fire and Rescue, staff from STEPS in Farmville and a registered nursing student.

The day ended with a ‘STOP THE BLEED’ class. The class, presented by Craft, was to encourage bystanders to become trained, equipped and empowered to help in a bleeding emergency before professional help arrives.