MassBay Collaborates with Local First Responders on Emergency Training Drill

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Liz Cooper
781-239-2636
ecooper@massbay.edu

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. (May 4, 2023) — Today, MassBay Community College held a training drill “disaster day MassBay Collaborates with Local First Responders on Emergency Training Drill mass casualty incident” on the Framingham campus to provide students in the health sciences division with a hands-on and interactive experience. The annual year-end event involves multiple disciplines that would respond in an actual emergency to give students the hands-on experience of working during a mass casualty incident. This year’s scenario was the aftermath of an active shooter incident, which involved police officers sweeping and securing the building, first responders encountering patients injured during the incident, and MassBay health sciences students treating people with a range of injuries.

“This exercise is part of the curriculum for our health sciences students to learn how to respond to this type of incident, while working in collaboration across different healthcare disciplines and with local police and fire departments, preparing for real world experiences,” said MassBay Dean of Health Sciences Dr. Lynne Davis. “The disaster day training drill is a memorable, hands-on learning experience for everyone involved.”

The Framingham Police and Fire Departments and the Massachusetts State Police took part in this educational, hands-on drill and use this event as a training exercise. Framingham Police, Massachusetts State Police, and MassBay Police worked collaboratively to sweep the building for the active shooter and to secure the scene. Framingham firefighters used this incident as further training with their Jaws of Life to extricate simulation mannequins from a vehicle outside the building. The vehicle that was used in this incident was donated by Central Auto Parts of Natick, and Patriots Ambulance had paramedics on-hand to assist in the training drill.

Participants included MassBay health care students and faculty in the Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT), Paramedicine, Nursing, Radiography Technology, and Surgical Technology programs, as well as student volunteer “patients” from MassBay’s human services programs, Framingham Public Schools, and Leominster High School.

“The Disaster Day training drill immerses our students in a situation where they use all the skills and training they have learned at MassBay,” said MassBay Simulation Manager Lise Kinahan. “The collaboration and practice are key to understanding and reacting in an emergency. We want to provide our students with real-world, specialized training that is going to make them well prepared for their careers in the healthcare industry.”

“This training was an interesting experience that I am glad MassBay provides to the EMT and Paramedic students,” said EMT student and Needham resident, Nick Buffinger. “We have practiced simulation training in our classroom, but this event made me feel even more prepared to bring the skills I have learned to an emergency situation.”

MassBay Community College is the most affordable higher education option in MetroWest Boston, offering a robust portfolio of courses and more than 70 associate degree and certificate programs with flexible day, evening, and weekend classes in Ashland, Framingham, Wellesley Hills, and online. MassBay students receive an unmatched educational value by earning stackable credits that transfer to bachelor’s degree programs, and workforce-ready skills necessary to advance careers in high-demand fields such as health and life sciences, automotive technology, engineering, business, cybersecurity, and the humanities. MassBay’s Associate Degree in Nursing (RN) and Practical Nursing (LPN) programs were both ranked as the #1 Nursing Program in Massachusetts in 2020-2021 by national nursing advocacy organizations RegisteredNursing.org, and PracticalNursing.org. Since its founding in 1961, MassBay has been accredited by several governing bodies and remains firmly committed to its mission of meeting the needs of the diverse local communities it serves. We value the intrinsic worth of all individuals, collectively in pursuit of inclusiveness and prioritize our work towards achieving equity within our community and beyond.