Innsbruck Airport: Practice for emergencies
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An emergency exercise was held at Innsbruck Airport on Friday evening. Around 350 emergency services rehearsed what to do if an airplane landed from the runway and collided with a winter service vehicle.
The exercise scenario at Innsbruck Airport was defined in advance: it was simulated that the collision with the winter vehicle would result in fuel escaping from the aircraft and a fire causing one seriously injured person. Furthermore, according to the exercise, a nearby club festival would also be affected, whose guests are trapped due to heavy smoke gas development.
Long, laborious preparation
Preparations for the emergency exercise have been in full swing for months, as the deputy director of the airport, Patrick Dierich, explained: “We have years of experience with such exercises. Of course, our partners, the blue light organizations, also have this experience. There is also a certain routine, but the effort is still enormous.”
Large contingent of forces
Austrian Airlines, Innsbruck’s professional fire brigade, three volunteer fire brigades, the Red Cross with 150 emergency services, the police and the airport operating company were able to put their operational plans and cooperation among themselves to the acid test. The exercise went smoothly, explained trainer Michael Herrmann: “At first glance it looks like chaos, but everything is very coordinated. It is impressive to see how the emergency services immediately know what to do. That gives you a good feeling for an emergency, should it happen.”
75 extras and lots of fake blood
Around 250 active employees were involved in the exercises, 75 so-called “figurines”, i.e. people playing the role of injured or sick people, made the event look very realistic. Wounds were made up to simulate cognitions.
The exercise lasts around two hours in total. The Innsbruck Red Cross also used the airport exercise as a final exercise for newly trained employees.