Don't be alarmed if you see military and other emergency responders on the scene at Port San Antonio today, it is an annual mass-casualty exercise to test the readiness of local hospitals and emergency responders.
The Southwest Texas Regional Advisory Council (STRAC) is organizing the mock disaster drill involving complex injuries, transportation needs, treatment and tracking.
The exercise will involve efforts by every private, university, and military hospital in the area, including those from Fredericksburg to Kenedy, and Hondo to Seguin. Hospital system personnel, doctors, first responders and other agencies will be involved in the exercise and San Antonio residents may see some of the emergency activity.
Actors will be transformed into injured patients through the use of moulage to mimic burns, wounds, and other injuries.
Part of the exercise will be at University Hospital, who said in a release that students from area nursing schools will be playing the victims to test their trauma team and Hospital Incident Command Center.
Results from the exercise will be used to improve plans and identify equipment gaps and training needs for real events should they occur in the future.
Remember that this is only a drill and not an actual disaster.
