Ten Red Cross volunteers played the victims during an emergency exercise Thursday, 24 May at Gerrard-Smith International Airport in Cayman Brac.
The role of the victims was to make the pretend plane crash as realistic as possible, so emergency teams have an accurate idea of the chaos and injuries that could happen if such an event were to occur.
The volunteers had realistic make-up to recreate different types of injuries and help them play their part: third degree burns, pieces of glass or metal stuck in the skin and open fractures.
Events similar to this are required of airports to meet ongoing international aviation standards and safety obligations, while also serving to test the ability of first responders to enact an airport’s emergency readiness plan.
Owen Roberts International Airport in Grand Cayman conducted a similar exercise earlier this month.
Also participating in the exercise in Cayman Brac was an assortment of personnel from the airport rescue and firefighting services and emergency medical technicians, as well as local police and officials from the departments of health and environment.
The emergency exercise in Cayman Brac, dubbed “Operation Dark Knight” simulated an airplane crash at Gerrard-Smith International Airport, where first responders and government officials were called upon to test their emergency preparedness measures.
The Cayman Islands Red Cross is always looking for volunteers and would local residents to contribute to the efforts by participating its annual Karaoke Contest on 9 June at the Aston Rutty Centre. Tickets and contestant forms are available at the Thrift Shop.
For more information about the Red Cross, contact Isabelle Dore, the Sister Islands coordinator, at 917-7307.
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