Dr. Lance Tatum, President | Northwest Missouri State University
Dr. Lance Tatum, President | Northwest Missouri State University
Northwest Missouri State University is preparing for its annual emergency response field training exercise, scheduled for October 9-12. The university is seeking volunteers from among students, employees, and the local community to act as victims during the event.
The exercise will be held at Mozingo Youth Camp and aims to provide practical disaster response training to students from Northwest and other regions. Volunteers will be made up to resemble individuals with injuries resulting from natural disasters such as floods, forest fires, or tornadoes in order to create realistic scenarios for participants.
“Students like to volunteer because a lot of them are headed for medical sciences, so that gives them practical experience,” said an assistant professor of biology who serves as a volunteer coordinator for Missouri Hope. “But it’s also just exposure to a disaster, what things might be like. It’s also good for the general public to see what goes on, and it’s also a lot of fun.”
Participation in Missouri Hope is mandatory for those majoring or minoring in emergency and disaster management at Northwest Missouri State University. However, students from any discipline can take part. The event features about 12 different training exercises designed for those entering medical fields, law enforcement, fire services, and the military. Activities include search-and-rescue operations, field assessment and treatment of traumatic injuries, evacuation from challenging environments, and managing emergency housing.
Missouri Hope is organized by Northwest’s Consortium for Humanitarian Service and Education. The program collaborates with several agencies including Maryville Public Safety, Nodaway and Buchanan County Emergency Management, Nodaway County Ambulance District, LifeFlight and LifeNet Air Ambulances, SEMA Region H Marine Hazmat Team, and the 1-129th Field Artillery Battalion Missouri Army National Guard.
Individuals interested in volunteering as role players can contact Peter Adam or Travis Surprise for more information.
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