Several emergency response agencies in Saginaw, Bay and Midland counties plan to take part Thursday, May 16, in a large training exercise designed to improve public safety.
People may notice an increased public safety presence or other unusual activity at MBS Airport as well as hospitals in Midland, Bay, and Saginaw counties during the exercise.
“This year, we’re dealing with more of a public health emergency that is going to involve an airplane full of sick people,” said Saginaw County Sheriff’s Lt. Mark Przybylski, who leads the county’s Emergency Management Division. “There’s going to be a lot of discussion between medical personnel and the public health departments in all three counties to try to determine what type of illness might be involved and what is the best course of action.”
During the exercise, people may see others who appear to be injured, but it’s just part of the training, Przybylski said.
“We put makeup on people to look like injuries, so medical personnel can kind of diagnose injuries,” Przybylski said. “We try to make an exercise like this real life as possible.”
The training exercise takes place from 9 a.m. to noon on Thursday.
The offices of emergency management and health departments of Saginaw, Bay and Midland counties, in conjunction with MBS International Airport and airline partners, as well as medical facilities and first responders are planning to participate.
The exercise will test existing response plans that allow public safety and private partners to work together to mitigate large incidents across jurisdictional boundaries, according to a press release from Saginaw County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Management Division.
For more information about the exercise, call 989-790-5434 or email mprzybylski@saginawcounty.com.
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