Washington Township police, fire, and emergency medical personnel held an active shooter drill at Bells Elementary School on March 27.
By Krista Cerminaro
The Washington Township Police Department, along with fire and emergency medical personnel, worked hand-in-hand to to execute an active shooter drill at Bells Elementary School on Tuesday, March 27.
The drill featured volunteers role playing an active shooter, injured victims and first responders acting out procedures — combined with special effects — in an effort to show school and government officials how a real-life situation would be handled if it occurred within the district. Among attendees were Chief of Police Pat Gurcsik, Mayor Joann Gattinelli, Superintendent Joe Bollendorf and many others.
“When they do the active shooter drills — or even fire drills in the school — it’s a repetitious thing. But if you start adding the realism into it, some role-playing, I think it takes it to the next level, and it’ll definitely better prepare them for a real situation,” district Fire Chief Patrick Dolgos said.
“We know in general that the younger the child is, the least ability they’re going to have to be able to help themselves,” Dolgos said. “With the middle school, upper middle-school level, high school students, a lot of them have a little bit more common sense, where they know some basic bleeding control measures, things like that. It’s also important to know that the younger the child is, the more critical their injuries could be.”
While elementary students were not present for the drill, Dolgos said the event was more of an opportunity for teachers and administrators to see how first responders take action.
“Because of the realism and the special effects that we use, we don’t want to traumatize the younger kids,” Dolgos said.
A debriefing session was held after the drill, giving attendees the opportunity to answer questions, address concerns and make comments on the procedures.
Capt. Kenneth Kennedy explained the entry team is trained in an active shooter scenario to stop the threat immediately, before assessing injured victims.
“It’s our job to go in and address that shooter right away,” Kennedy said. “Our first and foremost job is to address the threat.”
Kennedy explained once the threat is addressed, the rescue team will then come in and assist injured victims.
“It just stresses the importance of cooperation — collaboration of the agencies, including the school, to work together in these types of scenarios,” Dolgos added.
Dolgos also mentioned school officials should take advantage of programs such as the Stop the Bleed campaign, in the event that a real-life situation occurred in one of the schools.
“Agencies, whether it’s EMS, fire, police — and even the county OEM — offer free training to come in and teach you how to use tourniquets, and how to stop bleeding in these types of events,” Dolgos explained. “So, it’s something to consider in the future.”
Bollendorf mentioned the idea of implementing this type of large-scale training for staff and students.
“I hope we never have to experience this, but if we do, I feel that we’re all — each individually and as a group — we’re prepared,” Gattinelli added. “We’re being proactive, and not reactive.”
“I think we have awesome cooperation here in Washington Township,” Kennedy said.
