Fire-fighters quickly responding to the emergency
The Ogle International Airport on Friday tested its readiness to respond to any emergency in a simulation exercise at the airport’s East Coast Demerara location. The coordinators of the Emergency Training Exercise hailed the activity as successful.
During the exercise, a bomb explosion was staged, injuring passengers on a flight, while airport security and medical practitioners responded and they were assessed on their response to the simulated emergency.
It was quite a bustling scene on the airstrip and at the various hangars as medical personnel and airport staff took their roles seriously as they hastily responded to the suspected bomb attack at the airport.
According to Aviation Security Marrissa James, the aircraft hit the Wing Hangar upon landing which caused a massive explosion resulting in 30 deaths, including that of one infant. Airport security immediately rushed to the scene of the accident to offer assistance.
The vivid scenario also involved a suspected Ebola patient who was immediately isolated and sent for testing at the unit that was recently established at the airport.
Authorities transporting one of the injured victims to the ambulance
Radio equipment was used to effectively communicate information and to summon the ambulance, various hospitals, emergency teams, first aid responders, the Guyana Police Force and the bomb squad.
The crime scene was cordoned off and no one, expect relevant authorities, were allowed to access the area.
Private vehicles were also prevented from entering the airport.
It was noted too that the ambulance responded promptly to the incident while the other emergency services arrived sometime after.
Meanwhile, victims of the explosion were treated based on the seriousness of their injuries.
Subsequently, victims were transported from the Wing Hangar to the Caribbean Aviation Maintenance Services (CAMS) Hangar where they were further treated.
The purpose of the activity was to test the airport’s emergency responses while providing hands-on experience for airport and airline staff, hospital, fire service, security and other emergency personnel. Ogle Airport Representative Kit Nascimento disclosed that such an activity was last performed some four months ago.