Emergency Response Simulation Event
If you heard sirens Sunday morning at 10:00 AM, it was probably part of the
Emergency Response Simulation Event at Riverhead High School that occurred on Sunday, May 6th.

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At 9:00 AM on Sunday, May 6th, the students and staff gathered to discuss what would occur during the simulation. They were given this narrative:

"It's a sunny spring day on a Tuesday morning at approximately 11:30 AM. The wind is blowing slightly southwest. Two service technicians are servicing the boiler. While the boiler is being worked on, it back flashes and a fire develops in the boiler room. Heavy smoke overtakes the rest of the school in a matter of minutes."

At 10:00 AM the fire alarm was pulled and the building filled with smoke from a smoke machine. Within minutes the Riverhead Fire Chief arrived and was followed by the arrival of fire trucks, the police and emergency medical vehicles.

Firefighters simulated extinguishing the fire and evacuating the students that were still in the building. School, fire and medical command centers and triage areas were set up and emergency medical staff from Riverhead, Southold, Mattituck and the surrounding area responded to the call. EMTs tagged and treated the victims of burns, broken or bruised limbs from falls, open wounds, respiratory problems, etc. A few of the students were transported to local hospitals and others were moved to the Pulaski Street School.

After the simulation, a luncheon was served.

The luncheon was followed by a debriefing session led by Tom Cronogue, a certified instructor and Coordinator of Suffolk County EMS. He gave an overview of his observations on how the simulation was conducted and shared ideas on what might need to be changed or included in an actual emergency situation.

The cost of the simulation was paid for from a federal Emergency Response and Crisis Management grant the district received to finance planning of this nature and to ensure a safe and secure environment in our schools.

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