ICT Airport Disaster Drill - GHS Students

As Goddard High School students lay scattered across a grass field at Eisenhower National Airport, the remnants of a burning fuselage continue to fill the perfectly clear sky with billowing clouds of black smoke. When paramedic personnel approach, they instruct anyone who can hear their voices to please stand and walk towards them. As the majority of students arise, the paramedics remind them to please check their injury cards to ensure they can, in fact, walk - a quick reminder to take the drill seriously and fully act out their fake injuries. The medics then get to work triaging the “injured” and planning treatment accordingly. 

On Friday, September 1st, a large-scale simulated disaster drill took place between runways 1L and 14 at Eisenhower National Airport. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) mandates that all commercial airports in the U.S. conduct a simulated disaster drill every three years to train their emergency response personnel, both on the tarmac and inside the terminal. “The benefit is to make sure we are ready in case there is a real disaster,” commented Valerie Wise, Business & Marketing Manager for the Wichita Airport Authority. 

Since this unique training opportunity only occurs once every three years, it’s important that the students, airport and emergency staff all get it right. Andrew Schepis, a Sedgwick County EMS Captain, shared the significance of the exercise, “Making a difference and bringing calm to a chaotic situation…today’s just all about simulating a super disastrous scenario; it’s not something we get to do all the time.” 

Goddard High School (GHS) students that participate in the Career & Technical Education (CTE) Pathway Program, specifically the Law Enforcement Pathway, were invited to assist with this exercise to play the part of victims of the simulated plane crash. “If this is a career that they (the students) might want to look into, it’s about trying to get them some exposure to it. We love to see what the community can offer us, and what we can offer the community,” shared Mr. Jacob Holle, Goddard High School Law Enforcement CTE teacher.

Crave Beauty Academy staff provided faux wound makeup for all of the “victims” of the plane crash. This provided a more realistic learning opportunities for all emergency and airport personnel involved: Wichita Airport Authority, Airport Police & Fire Division, Airport Incident Family Support Team, FAA Airport Traffic Control Tower Team, Wichita Fire Department, Sedgwick County Fire Department, Sedgwick County EMS, Sedgwick County Emergency Management & Emergency Communications Teams, Healthcare Coalition Partners of Kansas, Wesley Medical Center, Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the American Red Cross.

There are 17 different CTE Pathways offered through Goddard Public Schools for grades 7-12, providing opportunities for students to learn from a variety of industry experts and experiences, such as this. It helps prepare them for their futures, and curates a space during high school to explore various career options before students make a secondary education and financial commitment to pursue a particular career. “It’s very interesting and fun. If you’re interested in wanting to do law enforcement, this is a great stepping stone.,” shared Makayla Oltmer, a GHS Law Enforcement CTE student. Additionally, these courses provide inspiration, spark interest and can even create connections between current students and past alumni. Madison Frost, a Sedgwick County EMS Paramedic and a Goddard High School graduate, shared her experience, “The feeling that the (emergency) providers who helped my family, in that time of emergency and grieving, I wanted to provide that to everyone else.”

In addition to the GHS Law Enforcement CTE students playing victims out in the field, there were also GHS Drama students playing the role of concerned loved ones inside the terminal. “She (Mrs. Oettle) is really passionate about drama, and she helps other people become passionate about it,” commented Jack Evers, a GHS Drama student. It’s equally important for the staff inside the airport to have the ability to effectively communicate with concerned family members and friends, should a real crisis situation occur. Mrs. Jamie Oettle, Drama Teacher at GHS, shared how this exercise positively impacts the students, “Our students are the future leaders…they’re learning all those skills that businesses want, they’re really great kids.”

The experience of students engaging with emergency responders in action, even during a simulated event, creates a positive, lasting impact on students. The network of connections can open up the door to internships and career opportunities they may have never imagined. “These are once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. You get to actually talk to people in the field,” shared Cayman Staley, a GHS Law Enforcement CTE student.

The mission of Goddard Public Schools is to educate all students for lifelong success. In educating the whole child, this includes providing college and career readiness opportunities. The CTE Pathway Programs incorporated within USD 265 provide these possibilities and experiences for students.