Bus "accident" planned for Saturday in Woodstock

Passers-by near the 4-H Camp in Bryant Pond shouldn’t be alarmed Saturday if they see an overturned school bus.

It’s a practice “accident” that will be staged to help emergency and school personnel hone their response skills, in the event such a crash really did happen.

“The recent bus accident reinforces the need for it,” said Woodstock Fire Chief Geff Inman, who is helping coordinate the exercise.

A school bus crash involving another vehicle took place recently in Hebron.

The scenario for Woodstock: at about 8 a.m. Saturday a busload of “students” from the Woodstock Elementary School are traveling to the 4-H Camp for an event when the bus driver has a medical emergency, and the bus tips over next to the field near the camp entrance.

Plans call for 30 occupants on the bus, most of whom will be played by “dummies.’

Organizations taking part in the exercise onsite include the Woodstock, Greenwood, Bethel and Newry fire departments, PACE, Tri-Town and Bethel ambulances. Others, such as MedCare, Stephens Memorial Hospital and WES personnel will simulate their plans at their own locations.

“We’ll also have HAM radio operators talking to the hospital, to add more training,” said Inman.

At the “crash” location, the personnel will cut “victims” from the bus using the JAWS of Life and other equipment, and then triage them.

An incident command will also be set up, with the WFD and PACE leading the response.

The activity associated with the practice will last until around noon or 1 p.m., said Inman. Traffic in the immediate area will be restricted.

One of two old school buses available for such exercises will be used. The two buses were donated by SAD 17 and RSU 9.