Article Text
A fallen runner, a wave of injuries and a fight in the crowd forced West Potomac Academy students to make rapid decisions during a live emergency simulation at West Potomac High School.
The first mock 911 call arrived at 10:08 a.m. A runner had fallen during a charity 5K and was bleeding heavily from the forehead. Within moments, student EMTs reached the course—but the staged crisis quickly escalated.
Other runners fell and trampled one another, spectators began fighting, and panicked crowds interfered with treatment. The EMTs called for police support so they could concentrate on the most seriously injured patients.
The annual exercise placed students in the roles of dispatchers, emergency medical technicians and law enforcement officers. Students and teachers portrayed injured runners, agitated spectators and 911 callers.
Academy Administrator Jamie Carfang said the simulation allowed students to apply classroom lessons while experiencing the demands of first-responder careers.
“It is a great way for our students to really immerse themselves in what it’s like to be these professionals,” Carfang said. “To be able to take what they learn in our classroom and then apply it out here is invaluable.”
Students in the 911 Dispatch course handled calls inside a mobile emergency call center supplied by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority.
Aniya, a senior in the class, described the experience as chaotic. She had to enter information into dispatch software while keeping pace with a surge of calls.
“The calls were going in fast, so we prioritized the most urgent calls,” she said.
On the field, EMT students confronted screaming patients, frightened bystanders and limited medical supplies.
Annabelle, a senior in the EMT course, said a real emergency would likely bring even more screaming, crying and distressed parents. The challenge, she said, is remaining calm while helping as many people as possible.
When the student EMTs discovered they were short on supplies, teamwork became essential. John, another senior, called the response “sheer collaboration,” with students quickly identifying what their teammates needed and finding ways to provide it.
Criminal justice students, guided by police officers, worked to contain the unruly crowd and give EMTs space to treat patients.
MaKiya, a senior in the criminal justice course, said persuading the spectators to follow directions was the hardest part because they repeatedly ran away or charged toward her.
“They’re acting, of course, but these are things that police officers deal with on a day-to-day basis,” she said.
Personnel from the Fairfax County Police Department, Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department, Community Emergency Response Team and Department of Public Safety Communications provided immediate feedback. Their participation also showed students how multiple agencies coordinate during an emergency.
Redic Morris of the Fairfax County Department of Public Safety Communications said bringing numerous partners together demonstrates how agencies can assist one another and operate jointly.
The professionals also discussed career paths with students and offered advice. Maria Kappel, West Potomac Academy’s career experience specialist, said the participating paramedics and EMTs took time to learn about students’ plans and help them consider their next steps.
Those connections have already produced opportunities. Lily, a senior who completed the dispatch course during the previous school year, met Fairfax County emergency communications personnel through the academy. She later joined the department’s first summer internship and secured a job before graduation.
“I’m going into 911 for Fairfax DPSC,” Lily said.
For students such as Lily, the exercise offers more than a realistic test of classroom skills. It can also provide a direct route into a first-responder career.