Students and Partners Learn More About Disaster Response at ECC Simulation Event

Edgecombe Community College’s Rocky Mount campus and the Rocky Mount Fire Department training grounds were the sites for ECC’s third annual Mass Casualty Incident (MCI) simulation event. On Saturday, Oct. 4, students from ECC’s allied health programs, along with local stakeholders from Bertie County EMS, Eastern Regional Hazardous Materials Response Team, ECU East Care, Edgecombe County EMS, Rocky Mount Fire Department, Rocky Mount Police Department and Williamston Fire and Rescue convened to train for emergencies.

“Each year, we hold the Mass Casualty event to better prepare our students and external partners to respond to disasters that we know Eastern North Carolina could experience,” said Adam Culbertson, fire and EMS coordinator at ECC and organizer for the simulation. “This year’s event was the most complex thus far, as it involved a shooting, fire and hazardous materials. Even though this seems extreme, it is something that could happen anywhere.”

The training event began at 8am and included more than 40 responders and 100 volunteers. Approximately 75 students from EMS, nursing, respiratory therapy, radiography and surgical technology also participated.