The University of Limerick (UL) will host a major emergency exercise this Thursday on site in the North Campus in Co Clare.
The aim of the event is to test the reaction of paramedic students and emergency services to a simulated major emergency incident, hosted at University of Limerick’s School of Medicine.
Staff from Limerick Fire and Rescue Service, National Ambulance Service, Explosive Ordnance Division (EOD) of the Irish Defence Forces, Limerick Civil Defence and An Garda Síochána, including the Armed Response Unit, will be involved in what will be the largest exercise of its kind in Ireland.
A number of emergency scenarios will be staged during Thursday’s event including a car crashing into a crowd as well as firearms and a water based incident.
Up to 45 paramedics, medical, and nursing students will respond to an evolving emergency situation involving a car crashing into a large crowd of people, a person wielding a machete, a gunman, a suspect package and a swift water rescue.
There will be 50 to 60 ‘casualties’ who will have to be triaged and treated by the students. A field hospital will be set up and the event will culminate with the arrival of Irish Coast Guard Helicopter Rescue 115 (depending on availability).
A similar event was held at UL in November 2022.
