Helicopters, emergency vehicles to take part in disaster training

AURORA - First responders in training are hoping to notify the public before a mass casualty exercise involving helicopters is done Wednesday morning.

The large-scale disaster training exercise is set to start at 9 a.m. with a simulated bomb explosion followed by responding rescue helicopters at 9:20 a.m.

About 200 actors from Community College of Aurora's Colorado Film School, theater department and English department, will have fake injuries including simulated lacerations, abrasions, fractures and impalements among other wounds.

CCA organizers say many of the first responder participants do not know the details or scope of the training exercise in an effort to enhance the real-life aspects of the scenario.

The U.S. Army is also taking part in the training and will simulate some of the odors commonly found in combat including raw sewage, gunpowder, burned flesh and hair as well vomit and blood. The military is also providing two high-technology tents, one of which will be the incident command center tent.

The goal of the exercise is to not only provide mass casualty training for future first responders but also to enable on-the-ground practice and testing of interagency communication.

The first responders are working with the U.S. Army, University of Colorado Health Sciences Emergency Medicine Program, Community College of Aurora's paramedic, emergency medical services and police academy students and multiple police and fire departments.

The training will take place at the Lowry campus near 10th and Yosemite. It is schedule to last until noon.

The training exercise will be funded by the CCA's Critical Incident Theater which has received more than $500,000 from Congress.

While members of the media are welcome to cover the event, the CCA says they will have actors playing the role of reporters within the exercise.