Based on the high volume and severity of casualties, it’s no wonder emergency medical services resources get overwhelmed at times.

A Mass Casualty Incident Basic Training for local providers to prepare for larger incidents in which they have to treat multiple patients instantly was held for local providers.

The program was presented last week by Chris Peischl, director of operations for Cetronia Ambulance, and Chris Greb, operations manager for Macungie Ambulance, at the Lehighton Ambulance Building.

Greb said the program reviewed common Mass Casualty Incident principles, such as command, triage, treatment and transport, lessons learned from prior incidents, as well as hands-on practice utilizing scenario-based training.

“EMS has to be ready to respond at all times to all types of emergencies,” Greb said. “These folks here respond to 30 emergencies a day; however, today we’re planning for big incidents that have multiple patients that present themselves at once.”

Gregg Harleman, paramedic/training coordinator, Lehighton Ambulance, explained the purpose of the program.

“We wanted to bring this training here to educate, further educate our local providers,” Harleman said. “You never know what kind of situation you’re going to be in.”

Harleman said the training is essential.

“So bringing this training up helps us become a more global resource with the surrounding counties and surrounding agencies so we’re all on the same page,” he said. “I think this class is very, very educational.”

Harleman said the training that was conducted was essentially a basic look at setting up a command structure.

“When you have multiple patients at a scene, the initial responding unit needs to set up a command structure so we can stay in control of the situation,” he said. “Say we have an incident where 10 people are either sick or injured. The responding unit cannot handle all of those patients by themselves.”

Harleman noted that a mass casualty incident is designated by the first unit, and additional units are dispatched to assist. They may be from surrounding counties if we are out of local resources, he added.

“We have a plan in place depending on the size of the incident,” he said. “The training we had educated the class on how to set up a command structure on the scene to limit confusion and guide incoming units. They are directed to a location to pick up the sick or injured patients. Those units will transport the patient to a designated hospital that is in contact with the command team on the scene.”

Harleman said they used a multivehicle motor vehicle accident for this particular class, as an MCI can be called in any situation where there are more patients than what the initial responders can handle, and it can be called for medical/fire/police incidents.

“We have had bus accidents in the past where this command structure was utilized,” he said. “We have also had fire incidents with multiple patients.”

Harleman added, “The possibilities are endless, so we need to train accordingly.

With all of the mass shootings going on around the country, we need to prepare for everything. This training does that.”