November 12, 1979

Plane wreck just a drill

       There will be a small plane crash in Bargersville Saturday. More than a dozen Johnson County emergency police, fire and ambulance agencies are expected to take part in the care and treatment of the 20 victims in the 2p.m. crash at the Bargersville Utilities plant on County Roads 300N and 400W. Approximately 12 of the 20 victims are expected to need further care and treatment at the Johnson County Memorial Hospital in Franklin. The scenario described above sounds gruesome, but there is really no need for alarm. Saturday’s plane crash in Johnson County will be simulated. It has been contrived by the Johnson County Emergency Medical Services Council and the Emergency Medical Technician Association as a drill to help area emergency agencies bone up on proper methods for responding to such an event should it happen in real life. Saturday’s mock disaster drill will begin at Bargersville, but will involve agencies county-wide. Volunteer victims have been recruited and will be made up by Johnson County Hospital personnel with fake wounds and broken bones. Participants in Saturday’s drill will include representatives of the Johnson County Sheriff’s Department, Johnson County Memorial Hospital, White River Fire Department, Franklin Police Department, Bargersville Town Marshal, Myers Ambulance Service, New Whiteland Fire Department Ambulance Service, Greenwood Fire Department Operation Life Ambulance, Franklin Fire Department Ambulance Service and the Johnson County Red Cross. The Johnson County Sheriff’s Department will receive the first announcement of the simulated crash from Forrest Sutton to initiate the alert drill. Emergency vehicles will not be using red lights or sirens to respond to the fake disaster, but motorists are asked to by aware that several such vehicles will be in the vicinity. Officials hope the simulation will help emergency crews devise ways to minimize the trips from the disaster scene to the Johnson County Memorial Hospital for emergency vehicles. Following the mock disaster, a critique will be conducted in the hospital cafeteria.  (Reprinted with permission from the Daily Journal)

       
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