The City of Lethbridge Emergency Preparedness Manager Luke Palmer speaks prior to the training scenario on September 21, 2022. (Image: Lethbridge News Now)

By David Opinko

Emergency crews to hold mass casualty simulation in Lethbridge Sept. 21

Sep 20, 2022 | 12:09 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Anyone trying to head into downtown Lethbridge on Wednesday, September 21, 2022, is advised that, while you might see something alarming, it is only a simulation.

The Lethbridge Police Service, Lethbridge Fire and Emergency Services, City of Lethbridge, Alberta Health Services, Canadian Red Cross, Salvation Army, and Lethbridge College will be taking part in an emergency services training scenario at Southminster United Church.

City of Lethbridge Emergency Preparedness Manager Luke Palmer says they will be simulating an event impacting the downtown core of the city.

“This will be a human-caused mass casualty incident, not something we’d see with the natural side of things, so getting our responders prepared to deal with that human-caused intentional act of whatever it might be,” says Palmer. “Whether it’s chemical-based or weapon-based, we want to make sure our crews are prepared for that.”

Municipalities are required to hold emergency training scenarios every four years, but Palmer says they try to do it as often as possible, sometimes annually.

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He believes it is crucially important for emergency departments to be ready for anything.

“What we develop needs to be practiced before we actually utilize it,” says Palmer. “We want to make sure that whatever plan we utilize for any response in the community has been practiced and we’ve identified any deficiencies and to make sure it actually works for the community.”

The training scenario will take place from 9:00 a.m. to approximately 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 21.

Beginning at 7:00 a.m., 10 Street South to 11 Street South at 4 Avenue South will be closed. Signage will be in place.

Some transit routes may be impacted, so users are asked to phone 311 during business hours about any scheduling adjustments.

READ MORE: Lethbridge News Now