April 17, 2014, 144 Clearfield Job Corps Center
students participated in a statewide mock earthquake
disaster exercise. The multi-agency, multijurisdictional
exercise tested the coordination of
medical services in the aftermath of a 7.0 magnitude
earthquake. Clearfield students played victims in the
disaster, undergoing professional makeup
transformations (known as moulage) reflecting
varying degrees of injury. They were also given
information on how to portray the signs and
symptoms of their injuries, which would enable the
medical responders to diagnose them.
After a simulated earthquake, students were triaged
according to their injuries and either treated
immediately or evacuated to two area hospitals.
Several students were even transported by MediVac
helicopters. While the center has participated in
Utah mock disaster exercises for the past 3 years,
this was the center’s largest group of students to participate.
Although the students participated as victims,
experiencing the mock disaster gave them insight
into how to deal with such situations and empathy
for real victims. Many of the students left the
exercise with the knowledge that they want to take a
larger role in helping ensure the safety of others.