Mt. SAC students participate in active shooter drill simulating emergency response, triage

WALNUT, Calif. (KABC) -- Mt. San Antonio College students on Thursday participated in an active-shooter mass-casualty drill, simulating emergency response, triage, transport, and hospital intake of multiple patients.

The drill was held in partnership with Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center as part of a regional preparedness exercise.

"It's really good for the students to experience it in a controlled setting where no one's actually hurt and there's no threat of life," said Danny Lopez, a paramedic instructor at Mt. SAC. "So they can practice their skills, understand the concept of getting people off-scene quickly, getting them to definitive care -- nurses, doctors and the staff at the hospitals. So this is a chance for them to learn in a safe environment."

Shooting at pyramids near Mexico City leaves 1 Canadian tourist dead, 6 people injured

The shooter later died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to a statement.

For the students in programs such as nursing, EMT/paramedic and respiratory therapy the exercise was a chance to get hands-on experience in an emergency. They participated in roles as both firs-responders and victims.

Part of the drill was held at a park near the college campus.

"We're outside, like a real-world environment. You're going to have blood squirting out of these wounds. Some of the things they have attached will squirt blood all over the place," Lopez said, referring to prosthetics that simulated wounds. "We can't always replicate that in the classroom and in a controlled environment, so it will get a little chaotic."

The drill was also designed to evaluate hospital and regional response capabilities during a mass-casualty incident. Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center, for example, tested its ability to manage a surge of more than 40 patients.