The exercise tested how agencies react to a major incident like this.
Don’t be alarmed if you hear sirens and see an emergency crew rushing to the Leon Ferreira Fire Station, it’s just a test of how emergency services react to major incidents.
The exercise includes participation by various SAPS units, Gauteng Emergency Services, USAR-SA, Ekurhuleni Disaster and Emergency Management Services, private ambulance services, search and rescue NGOs. Other parties involved include Standard Bank Group, the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) and the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA).
The multi-agency simulation exercises, organised by authorities in the district, will throughout the day trigger emergency responses from several emergency services crew members in the area.
Some of the 'patients' who have been pulled out from the rubble after a building partially ‘collapsed’ in the emergency services simulation exercise.
These women were actors appointed to help the team simulate the experience of rescuing people from the rubble of a collapsed building.
The exercise tested how agencies react to a major incident like this.
Fire and rescue crew members from across the province are taking part in a major simulating exercise including rescuing 'patients' from rubbles of collapsed structures.
Officials working through a simulated search-and-rescue exercise.
A mannequin is used to mimic the effects of a chemical explosion during the simulated rescue operation.
The full details of the string of ‘disaster’ exercises have not been disclosed yet, with the operation leaders still dealing with the ‘incidents’ on the scene. However, officials on the scene of the set-up scenarios told the Advertiser this operation will consist of different major incident response drills designed to test the adequacy of the district’s emergency response plan, in the event of a major disaster in the province. It will also help develop the skills of emergency personnel.
“After everything had been set up, a real emergency call is placed and emergency services personnel, not knowing about the simulation, had to respond to the scene and our observers recorded the teams’ response time and their state of efficiency.
“The main aims of the operation are to look at the multi-disciplinary capacities available in the district, test the emergency services and see how they respond to various exercises and ensure we look at weaknesses we can improve on. “It also gives us an insight into each agency and shows us their capabilities to deal with real situations,” said the officials.
This is a developing story and will be updated once more information pertaining to this event becomes available.
Hundreds of emergency service personnel taking part in a huge training exercise recently to test the emergency response in the event of a major 'disaster' in the district.
“Help me!” A ‘patient’ yells repeatedly as he is being pulled from a concrete pipe.
These women were actors appointed to help the team simulate the experience of rescuing people from the rubble of a collapsed building.
Officials working through a simulated search-and-rescue exercise.
Some of the emergency services personnel participating in the major training exercise in Boksburg.
Emergency personnel managed to rescue 'patients' who were ‘trapped’ in the building after it ‘collapsed’.
Some of the emergency services personnel participating in the major training exercise in Boksburg.
Emergency personnel managed to rescue 'patients' who were ‘trapped’ in the building after it ‘collapsed’.
Emergency personnel managed to rescue 'patients' who were ‘trapped’ in the building after it ‘collapsed’.
Some of the 'patients' who have been pulled out from the rubble after a building partially ‘collapsed’ in the emergency services simulation exercise.
The operation included a mock live response search-and-rescue operation.
'Patients' mimic the effect of being rescued from the rubbles of a collapsed structure.
This tank will be used for the chemical explosion simulation.
Fire and rescue crew members from across the province are taking part in a major simulating exercise including rescuing 'patients' from rubbles of collapsed structures.
These women were actors appointed to help the team simulate the experience of rescuing people from the rubble of a collapsed building.
Fire and rescue crew members from across the province are taking part in a major simulating exercise including rescuing 'patients' from rubbles of collapsed structures.
