CGTC conducts first responders field training exercise in WR

On Saturday, June 12, CGTC held a field training exercise for first responders from 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. at the Sonny Watson Health Sciences Center. The Medical Association of Georgia’s Medical Reserve Corp. (MAG MRC) worked with Trinity School of Medicine and Central Georgia Technical College, and also partnered with the 116th Medical Group, Georgia Air National Guard and the Warner Robins Police Department. They all helped create a joint field training exercise designed to simulate a real-world bomb blast mass casualty incident.

Since its inception in 2014, MAG MRC has conducted trainings for its members throughout the state in an effort to improve command and control, provide trainings in locations that are easily accessible to members throughout the state, and practice skills in deployment, assembly, medical response and stand-down processes. Now, in partnership with the Trinity School of Medicine and Central Georgia Technical College, MAG MRC set out to conduct a mass casualty response training with the purpose of deploying active members as respondents to a simulated disaster event.

Frank McDonald is the public information officer, and he attended the event to help out all first responders. McDonald explained that he wants “the end goal of the event to be, where all the groups could coordinate and learn to better work together.” For example, the police department, fire department, military and physician volunteers.

McDonald said, “With all them learning to work together, they will become faster with helping patients in mass disasters.” He went on to state that, “This event is a positive thing for future first responders to see. One because, they will know what to do and expect in a real event, and two, they will become more motivated and excited about their job.” McDonald also thinks we need more first responders and that their pay needs an increase for the great work they do.

Alvin Harmon, the dean of CGTC also attended the event to support all responders. “These events usually occur once a year,” he said, “but this is CGTC’s first time hosting one because of the pandemic.” Harmon mentioned that the exercises that took place were for the nursing students and paramedicine EMT students. The students learned community health training allowing them to access less or more critical patients, and what to do once they identify that patient.

“The end goal of this event for CGTC is to enhance student learning,” Harmon said.

With the nursing students and EMT students this gives them more time for learning. While learning in a group, it allows them to work as a team and get the job done faster.

“With this event taking place, this benefits them with added training,” Harmon stated. “First responders can never be too prepared.” Harmon went on to say, “Yes, we need more first responders, but in all fields. For example, smaller areas like central Georgia need more responders, and ones that are willing to put in the work.”

According to Harmon, this event will not only have a positive impact on the first responders, but also on the community.

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