BY JEFF CHUDZINSKINorth Country This Week

POTSDAM -- Fire trucks, police vehicles, ambulances and a hazmat team converged upon SUNY Potsdam on July 31 as part of a full-scale emergency response simulation. 

The simulations are typically held once per year but other training opportunities arise throughout the year. 

"We can scale them up from a table top, which means we are essentially just talking through scenarios, to smaller scale simulations and then full-scale simulations," said Patrick O'Brien, Director, Environmental Health, Safety and Emergency Management for SUNY Potsdam. 

The simulation was O'Brien's design, during which he worked as a facilitator. 

"I drew up the concept, the situation itself, and worked out the details from the scale of the simulation to the list of victims, actors, injuries, everything needed," O'Brien said. 

The simulation involved four victims, two with chemical burns, while another suffered burns to their legs and a fourth suffered from inhalation of toxic fumes. 

O'Brien said the full-scale response allowed numerous agencies to interact and work together, something that does not happen very often. 

"We wanted to be able to coordinate with local fire and rescue, police agencies, state agencies and SUNY as well. It allows us to work out the kinks well in advance of a real-life scenario playing out," O'Brien said. 

He commented that communication was key, something all agencies will continue to work on. 

"We have to make sure everyone gets on the same page. Each agency in Canton alone uses different radio frequencies. Working in basements of brick buildings is not conducive to using radios as well. Each department may have slightly different terminology. So, it's a learning curve and we'll continue to work on our communication. That was one big takeaway from the simulation," O'Brien said. 

Amber Letko, director of the Office of Emergency Management for the SUNY system was also on hand for the simulation, helping to coordinate efforts. 

She said hosting such simulations on campuses is a unique test of the resources available in scenarios that are more specific to the SUNY system, as well as higher education. 

"Hosting events like this on campus gives us an opportunity to get on scene, work in these surroundings and allows our first responders to learn the layout of the campus and its buildings. It really is the best case scenario for everyone involved," she said. 

O'Brien commented that the training is a "low risk, low impact" training opportunity hosted through the SUNY system. 

"If there is a time to make mistakes, it's now. It allows us to learn from them and ensure it doesn't happen when we get the call at 3 a.m.," he said. 

Letko seconded the sentiment, saying it was essential to get on campus and work through various scenarios. 

Presently, one full-scale event is held each year. That comes at a significant expense when smoke machines and other devices are used to simulate a specific scenario, like the one held at SUNY Potsdam. 

"We have been very fortunate to secure grant funding to bring in the various tools for a simulation like this. They are essential for carrying out something of this scale," Letko said. 

SUNY Potsdam staff were also on scene for the simulation, utilizing internal communication systems to practice as well. 

"It's crucial to inform the campus community of what may be happening, who may be responding and what possible injuries there may be. Those systems allow us to quickly disseminate the information as the situation evolves," O'Brien said. 

All told, the simulation lasted around two hours, involving roughly a dozen agencies and several dozen personnel. 

"It was a great test of our capabilities and has provided us with valuable feedback," O'Brien said. 

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