More than 100 people posed as victims in the mock disaster at Davenport University Saturday.
CALEDONIA, Mich. (WZZM)- To the passerby, it looked like a disaster. In reality, it was a lesson in saving lives.
Kent County emergency responders staged a mock plane crash at Davenport University Saturday. In the simulation, a plane experiences engine trouble shortly after take-off, and crashes into a campus hall.
Emergency management coordinators began planning the exercise last September. Saturday, 28 agencies took part in the drill, including health care students from Davenport University.
"My thought was, let's embed student learning in this as well. It's a resume builder for them," said Karen Daley, dean of the College of Health Professions. "I think in this area they haven't done anything of this magnitude that involved the university and embedded student learning. It's very rare, so this is a new thing. We're very fortunate that they picked us."
Emergency responders are required to take part in a mock disaster at least once every three years. In Kent County, this is the first time the mock plane crash happened outside an airport.