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Crime & Safety

Bloody Scenario at Napa College on Friday the 13th

Friday's mass-casualty drill on the south Napa campus gave nursing and EMT students the chance to practice their skills with professional medical volunteers.

A four-car collision on the campus, killing one person and injuring 16, was the bloody scenario on Friday the 13th – and it happened not once, but twice, first in the morning and again after lunch.

Bad luck had nothing to do with the incidents, which drew emergency vehicles and helicopters to the south Napa campus: The college’s Health Occupations department was holding its second annual drill.

The all-day event was a chance for the college’s emergency medical students, paramedics and future nurses to practice, in a real-life situation, what they have learned during their two-year courses of study.

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“It’s sort of like a final exam, but no one is graded,” said NVC paramedic student Gabe Williams, who was the public information officer for the drill.

Along with 120 NVC students, Williams said 100 professional emergency personnel and employees from were volunteering for the day’s exercises.

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The Queen also provided two Quonset-style tents equipped as a portable hospital, which was staffed by hospital nurses.

With fake wounds and covered in red coloring that appeared to be blood, the volunteer “victims” of Friday’s collision were carried on yellow body boards to triage stations.

Those deemed most seriously injured were taken to hospitals by three ambulances and two helicopters. Three fire trucks also took part in the drill.

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