Campbell County Health and other Organizations Need Volunteers for a Disaster Drill

GILLETTE, WY – Campbell County Health (CCH) and several other organizations are preparing for a community-wide Emergency Preparedness Disaster drill to be held in June 2017 and are looking for members of the community to participate. Volunteers would pose as victims or distraught family members of a victim. Approximately three hours on one evening is requested from each volunteer and they must be 14 years old or older.

Conducting regular disaster drills provides Emergency Management Services (EMS) and potential affected businesses the opportunity to practice and assess how to respond to an actual event including response, communications, staffing, security, supplies, etc. Disasters can be devastating for a community, but being prepared and working together effectively for the benefit of the victims is critical in managing the situation.

CCH Disaster Preparedness Director Veronica Taylor encourages citizens to participate.

“As the emergency medical service provider and only hospital in Campbell County, we always look for opportunities to improve our processes and work with the other responders. Being a volunteer for the drill helps all of the entities involved become better and more prepared for something that doesn’t happen every day,” says Veronica.

The community-wide drill is a collaboration of many agencies, organizations and businesses in Campbell County including: American Red Cross; Campbell County Airport (including the Federal Aviation Association); Campbell County Emergency Management; Campbell County Fire Department and Sheriff’s Department; Campbell County Health (including EMS); Campbell County Public Health; City of Gillette; Gillette Police Department; Guardian Flight; and Wyoming Life Flight.

No experience is necessary to volunteer to be a “victim” or “family member”. For more information, or to volunteer, call the CCH Emergency Preparedness department at 307-688-6040.