Framingham "Disaster Day Training" May Impact Local Schools Thursday

FRAMINGHAM, MA - MassBay Community College will hold a “disaster day – mass casualty incident” training drill on Thursday beginning at 9 a.m. on their Framingham campus at 19 Flagg Dr.

The scenario for this three-hour drill is the emergency response immediately following an active shooter incident, which will involve police sweeping the building, first responders encountering patients trapped between a vehicle and a building, and MassBay Health Sciences students treating people with injuries.

Participants will include MassBay health care students, faculty, and administrators in the nursing, emergency medical technicians (EMT), paramedicine, radiography technology, and surgical technology programs, as well as 45 student volunteer “patients” from MassBay, Framingham State University, Leominster High School, and St. John’s Prep.

The Framingham Police Department and the Framingham Fire Department will also take part in this educational, hands-on drill and will use this event as a training exercise for their firefighters to use the Jaws of Life.

“This exercise is part of the curriculum for our health sciences students to learn how to respond to this type of incident, while working in collaboration across different healthcare disciplines and with local police and fire departments, preparing for real world experiences,” said Dr. Lynne Davis, MassBay’s Dean of Health Sciences. “The disaster day training drill is a memorable, hands-on learning experience for everyone involved.”

The activity may impact students and teachers at the nearby Fuller Middle School and the McCarthy Elementary School, who are being dismissed early that day. In advance of the event, Superintendent Robert Tremblay issued the following statement to parents:

"On Thursday, April 28, 2022 MassBay Community College will be conducting a large-scale Emergency Response Training Event at 19 Flagg Drive involving the students of MassBay's Paramedic, EMT, Nursing, Surgical and Radiologic Technology departments along with Framingham Fire and Police Departments.

"This hands-on teaching and learning experience is a great opportunity for MassBay students. Given the timing of this event and the elementary and middle school early release schedule, we want to make sure you are aware of this MassBay planned activity.

"Please take notice that there may be a large number of people temporarily gathered around the Farley Building/MassBay as well as lights, sirens, and emergency personnel. Members of our school communities should not be alarmed as this is only a drill."

Tremblay directed questions or concerns to Mass Bay's Lise Kinahan, Director of Simulation Education, at ljohnsonkinahan@massbay.edu.

"While our communication is intended to inform parents and staff members about the drill and possibility of impact to the drop-off and/or pick-up procedures, it is an incredible learning opportunity for the Mass Bay students," said Framingham Public Schools spokesperson Rochelle Santos.