Published August 17. 2023 10:33AM
By LOU WHEELAND
Special to The Press
ssSouth Whitehall Township, numerous regional police departments, EMS crews and fire departments, and the Parkland School District took part in an active shooter drill Aug. 9 at Orefield Middle School.
The purpose was to offer realistic training and experience to the agencies involved in the drill.
Students from the Parkland School District and adult volunteers served as students and educators caught up in a terrifying event.
Many of the volunteers acted as shooting victims with makeup and moulage, an application of synthetic materials to mimic traumatic injuries which adds to the realism of such an event.
Agencies responding included, but not limited to, were South Whitehall Township Police and other local, state and federal law enforcement, Lehigh County Dispatch/911, Emergency Medical Services led by Cetronia Ambulance, Lehigh Valley Health Network, Salisbury Township, Lehigh County Rescue Task Force, Sacred Heart Allentown, St. Luke’s, Bethlehem, and more.
PRESS PHOTO BY LOU WHEELAND Deb Tice, rehab officer, Jose Gonzalez, fire police captain, and Shoukat Mughal, fire police officer, Woodlawn Fire Department discuss their roles in the active shooter drill Aug. 9 at Orefield Middle School, South Whitehall. Story and additional photos appear on page A5.
PRESS PHOTOS BY LOU WHEELAND South Whitehall Police Community Relations Officer Jason Grozier enters Orefield Middle School in response to an active shooter during a drill. Staff wearing orange and yellow vests were safety officers and trainers.
Students portrayed by Jonathan Kleibscheidel, Evan Sutton, Gavin Deprill and Jamison Kleibscheidel flee Orefield Middle School during the active shooter drill Aug. 9 at the school.
School counselors portrayed by Dan and Patti Farrell, volunteers with Lehigh County Community Emergency Response Team, quickly exit Orefield Middle School during the active shooter drill.
Cetronia Ambulance Corps units arrive Aug. 9 at the active shooter drill at Orefield Middle School, South Whitehall.
The Command Post at the active shooter drill at Orefield Middle School was an extremely important component of the drill.
A “patient,” is transported at the active shooter drill Aug. 9 at Orefield Middle School, South Whitehall.
The Lehigh County Communications truck arrives Aug. 9 at the active shooter drill at Orefield Middle School. The unit provides a unified communication center for large emergency incidents in the county.
Another “patient,” a volunteer, is on his way to an ambulance at the active shooter drill.
EMS staff, “patients,” police officers gather near the entrance to Orefield Middle School during the active shooter drill on Aug. 9.
