Today, the Bandera County EMS, along with various agencies, participated in a large-scale mass casualty exercise at the San Antonio International Airport (SAT). The event was hosted by the San Antonio Fire Department (SAFD) and led by the Southwest Texas Regional Advisory Council (STRAC).
Required by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) every three years, this regional exercise aimed to test the incident response capabilities of the San Antonio area. During the exercise, emergency crews successfully triaged and transported over 70 simulated patients, further strengthening their preparedness for real-world emergencies.
The simulated scenario at SAT involved a plane crash, providing a crucial opportunity for multiple agencies to work together seamlessly in responding to a mass casualty incident. Participants included SAT staff, STRAC, FAA, SAFD, San Antonio Airport Police Department, San Antonio Police Department, local hospitals, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
"The emergency training exercise involves hundreds of people working together," stated Jesus Saenz, Director of Airports for the San Antonio Airport System. "It's important to go through this training so everyone is prepared to take action."
The exercise began with the establishment of a crash site on the airfield, featuring flames, smoke, first responders, ambulances, and approximately 90 "injured passengers" along with scattered aircraft debris. Volunteers from local colleges and universities played the role of injured passengers, allowing first responders to practice rescuing, treating, and transporting them to hospitals.
SAT's Triennial Airport Emergency Mass Casualty Exercise is mandated by the FAA for all airports in the United States with commercial air carrier service, ensuring that these facilities are well-prepared to respond to and manage mass casualty incidents.
