MILLSTONE — Do not be alarmed by the fact that a plane is expected to crash in the area of the Millstone Township Middle School and Wagner Farm on March 28.
The “crash” will be a drill with a greater purpose — to prepare first responders who may one day be called to this type of emergency.
Millstone Township resident James Collins, 17, who is a member of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Youth Preparedness Council, will direct the mass casualty incident — a simulated drill to handle injuries that would likely occur during a plane crash.
The young man has been diligently planning the drill for months. It is designed to prepare first responders for when disaster strikes.
“It will better train our local first responders for when an incident with a mass casualty disaster influx of patients occurs,” Collins said. “It can be used to train for any situation, not just a plane crash.”
The drill will call for the first responders to search for and rescue about 50 victims and to provide triage based on the victims’ injuries. The first responders will have to locate the victims in the fields and wooded areas near the crash site.
The first responders will place the victims on stretchers and employ other rescue devices to bring the injured individuals to designated areas based on their injuries.
Helicopters from the Monmouth-Ocean Hospital Service Corporation and the New Jersey State Police are expected to land and simulate the way in which they would be deployed during an actual emergency.
Collins is ready to direct the drill and enjoys volunteering. He is a volunteer firefighter and emergency medical technician in Millstone Township.
As a member of the FEMA Youth Preparedness Council, Collins represents Region II, which includes New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. He was selected to serve on the council from a field of about 10,000 applicants.
Representatives of many area organizations are expected to participate in the drill, including Millstone Township Boy Scouts, Police Explorer programs, the Colts Neck High School JROTC, FEMA, FEMA Youth Preparedness Council Region II.
And, the New Jersey State Police, the New Jersey State Emergency Medical Services Task Force, the Monmouth County Office of Emergency Management, the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office, Monmouth County Emergency Medical Services Task Force, Monmouth County Medical Reserve Corps.
Also, the Millstone Township Office of Emergency Management, Millstone Township Fire Department, Millstone Township First Aid Squad, Millstone Township Department of Public Works, Manalapan Township Fire Co. No. 1 (Millhurst), the Englishtown-Manalapan First Aid Squad, Monmouth County Health Department, Manalapan Teen Community Emergency Response Team, Allentown First Aid Squad, Hope Fire Company.
And, the Englishtown Fire Department, Freehold First Aid and Emergency Squad, Freehold Township Independent Fire Company, the Roosevelt First Aid Squad, Howell First Aid Squad, Manalapan Community Emergency Response Team, MONOC Hospital Corporation, Monroe Township Fire Department, Monroe Township First Aid Squad and the Manalapan Police Explorers.