St John WA joins multi-agency mass-casualty exercise at Perth Airport

First responders from multiple agencies, including St John WA, recently participated in “Operation Hermes,” a mass-casualty training exercise at Perth Airport.

The exercise, aimed at enhancing inter-agency collaboration and emergency preparedness, involved 300 participants from St John WA, Perth Airport, the Department of Fire and Emergency Services, the Aviation Rescue Fire Fighting Service, Western Australia Police Force, Australian Federal Police, and the Salvation Army.

The realistic scenario involved a simulated hard landing with fuel onboard, resulting in 60 casualties with a variety of injuries ranging from minor to severe.

Stacey Abbott, Senior Manager of Specialist Operations at St John WA, emphasised the extensive preparation that went into the exercise, which started as early as February.

“The importance of running exercises like this is so we can learn and improve. It puts us in a stronger position to respond effectively when real incidents occur,” she said.

Responders worked together to assess each patient’s condition, provide immediate care, and transport them to triage areas for further treatment.

The event saw over 50 St John WA staff and volunteers in action, with a strong presence from Event Health Services and regional teams.

A total of 35 volunteers helped with triaging and providing patient care, supported by Paramedic Special Operations, Clinical Leads, and Patient Transport services.

Manager of Special Operations Deane Coxall highlighted that each exercise brings valuable insights that contribute to ongoing improvements in emergency response.

“Some of the learnings typically focus around, communication and coordination,” he said.

“ So what we’re looking to do is understand where we can do communication and coordination much better, so that when we are required in a real life scenario we can ensure the best patient outcomes.”

Held every two years, mass-casualty exercises at Perth Airport play a critical role in ensuring the readiness of emergency response teams.