It was a scene that might have happened on any rural road in the country.

 

A two-car collision that left three people with potential life-threatening injuries, waiting for help.

 

Fortunately for the people in the “crash” on Huber Ave. in Clearwater Twp. last Wednesday evening, it was only a drill.

 

Twice a month, members of the Clearwater Fire Dept. hold different types of drills to stay ready for any incidents that might happen.

 

Last week, the fire department, in conjunction with the Wright Co. Sheriff’s Dept. and Allina Health, staged a vehicle accident to test how responders react during a crisis.

 

To set the stage, Interstate Automotive hauled in two cars to set up about 35 feet apart to simulate the aftermath of a head-on collision. In one car was a live husband in wife. The husband was pinned behind the wheel with unknown injuries.

 

The other car was flipped on its side with a dummy pinned underneath.

 

“Once we have everything set up, our dispatch will page our firefighters as a two-car accident near an address,” said Lieutenant Ryan Sims with the Clearwater Fire. Dept. “ They’re going to respond with light and sirens - doing the speed limit. They’re going to have to do what we do at practice.”

 

The same time the fire department is paged, so is the ambulance provided by  Allina Health.

 

Once the firefighters arrived, it was their job to assess the scene and call for any equipment they would need.

 

“We have live people here to make it more real. We want the adrenaline going,” said Sims.

 

The scene was so realistic that a few passers-by attempted to stop and offer assistance. They had to be told it was just a training exercise.

Wednesday’s drill involved doing a car extrication - cutting the doors off and getting the crash victim out safely. Firefighters took vital signs and had to evaluate whether the victim had any other injuries.

 

All the while, rescue personnel had to try to calm down the distraught wife who wanted them to be careful but work quickly.

 

Another crew had a different job - trying to free the person pinned under  the overturned vehicle.  

 

“We use struts to stabilize the vehicle and use airbags to lift the car off the trapped crash victim,” said Sims.

 

Wednesday’s crash was just one type of drill the firefighters go through during the year. They also do house burns, grass fires, cold water rescues and lots of medical training.

 

It’s all about decision-making under stressful conditions, and a vehicle crash with multiple victims is a good test.

 

“Our objective is to get the patient out and into the ambulance,” said Sims. “We’ll see how good our guys do and how well they know their jobs.”