Greenwich CERT Team Participates in Emergency Exercise

By John Mastracchio

Greenwich’s CERT Team (Greenwich Emergency Response Team) members found themselves with their roles reversed on Saturday during a simulated plane crash where they portrayed victims.

The Westchester Airport Emergency Exercise simulated a JetBlue plane crashing into Playland Lake.

This year’s scenario portrayed an airliner running out of fuel, and winding up in Playland Lake.

Floating dummies were retrieved by specialized water-rescue responders, before switching to human victims on shore.

The victims were coached on how to behave with their injuries, including having extensive mulage, which is the specialized makeup used to simulate burns, lacerations, and even compound fractures.

Local ambulance crews from surrounding communities, including Greeenwich GEMS, proceeded to triage the victims and provide transport to a local hospital, which in this case, was a tent in the parking lot.

Victims were then “recycled” so as to provide stress to the system in place. The team coordinated the rescue of nearly 70 passengers.

The observations made during this exercise will serve to improve future responses.

Greenwich’s CERT Team, led by Emergency Management Director Joe Laucella played an integral role in furthering airport safety.

The airport’s management is already planning next year’s emergency.

Greenwich’s CERT team is a group of trained volunteers who assist their community during emergencies or disasters. Established by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), CERT programs are designed to enhance local response capabilities by providing organized, well-prepared citizens who can support first responders and help ensure community safety.

Greenwich residents interested in joining the CERT team should on the lookout for volunteer opportunities next spring.