09/26/12 - Kuhl Hose along with Edinboro, Waterford and Union City fire departments found themselves faced with a chaotic scene.  An overturned school bus, crying kids and frantic parents made the scenario as close to real life as possible.  Boy Scouts from Troop #133, slathered in fake blood with eviscerations, impaled objects, cuts, bruising, fractures and more climbed into the overturned bus and waited to play the roles of injured students. 

Before drill started a safety briefing was held, then the dispatch… “Waterford vehicle accident ……”  Set to run like an actual emergency dispatch protocols were followed.  After additional information of a “School Bus roll over, multiple patients with entrapment…” more units were summoned.  Each of the other companies were dispatched and minutes of waiting to respond to keep it “Real Life” response times. 

Being a drill, Captains and Lieutenants were placed in command and company officer roles to be mentored by Chief Officer’s.  Captain 152 arrived, reported “one school bus on its side" and assumed command.  A closer inspection of the scene command updated his report confirming entrapment and 12 – 15 students in the bus. 

As crews arrived, EMS/Triage/Treatment areas were set up.  Apparatus staging, and extrication crews were put in place.  Crews gained access, treated, extricated and transported patients from the scene.  All the patients were transported to “Stancliff Trauma Center” set up at the fire station.  The Drill was well received by all agencies involved.  Several bus drills had been held prior to this evening’s drill, and lessons and skills learned on those nights cumulated to make this disaster drill successful.