An island devastated by storms with flooding tunnels, collapsed buildings and trapped and injured victims, including a baby, was the scene confronting Loughborough College students on a major military and civil aid exercise.
With command set up by Police, Fire and Paramedic services on board HMS Dragon and military aid from the Royal Navy, Public Services and Performing Arts students gained first hand experience of crisis management as part of the Plymouth-based simulation.
Loughborough College students entered the frontline in the aftermath of a violent storm which had destroyed buildings and ruptured water mains and left 40 island residents stranded in the midst of growing disease without food, water or power.for 36 hours.
“Our Public Services degree students shadowed the search and rescue operation while the Performing Arts students joined actors playing the casualties who were shocked, agitated and terrified.
“In this scenario the disaster location was Caldey Island, off the coast of Wales, and civil services had requested military aid, from the Navy, and set up command on board the ship,” said Loughborough College Public Services lecturer Nigel Wright, who himself has a military and civil emergency services background, having spent seven years as a Royal Marines Commando and 30 as a firefighter.
“Vital plans were put in place and rigorous procedures followed to locate and support the casualties trapped in darkness, rubble and flood water with untreated serious injuries and crying babies and even media presence, provided by the Ministry of Defence, adding to the pressure.
“Ours were the only students involved in the exercise and it was an outstanding opportunity for them to gain an insight into crisis management priorities and how they are put into action on the ground.”
Mat Hobday, course manager for the BA (Hons) in Public Services at Loughborough College added: “In this day-long exercise, our final year students got to see first hand how real life scenarios are handled and to question key personnel involved.
“It is incredibly valuable to them to see if the strategy theories they have learnt in the classroom work in practice, not only for the International Disaster Management element of their degree course but also for those planning to focus on that for their research projects and dissertations. And it also gives them excellent industry experience.”
“The scenario and experience was so realistic we all found it easy to throw ourselves into role - some of the rescuers and observers commented that the students were so convincing, they found themselves moved to tears!” said Vicki Calvert-Gooch, Performing Arts tutor at Loughborough College.
“Our role play saw me trapped in a collapsed building with my two daughters, played by Kayleigh Dennis and Beccie Hales, and my granddaughter, a doll.
“Four of the other students - Sharna Morris, Leah Vanmali, Kathryn Meneely and Katie Boyes - were trapped by flood water with Katie's baby, another doll, and Leah with a severe injury to the leg.
“The final two students in our group, Derri Bailey and Rachel Colquhoun, had the freedom to wander the full exercise site and interact with other actors and service personnel.
“All of the students stepped up to the task and demonstrated the skills they have been learning throughout their training in college. The feedback received was outstanding, with Leah Vanmali being given a special mention from the organisers for her spectacular performance.
“Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the experience and it will be fantastic for them to add this to their portfolios.”
Watch Loughborough College students taking part in the Ministry of Defence ‘media interviews’ during the rescue operation here:
Pictured: Loughborough College ‘victims’ awaiting rescue