Nursing, Criminal Justice Students Get Firsthand Experience With Disaster Drill

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- "Crime scene investigators" cover a wooded area in Raccoon Creek State Park. But these investigators are students in the criminal justice and nursing schools at Pittsburgh Technical Institute.

The crime scene is a disaster drill, in which they experience what PTI's Scott Domowicz calls, "What it would be like to roll up onto a disaster scene, and, first, have to treat patients and make patient assessments, treat those individuals, and then process the crime scene."

The scenario includes a robbery and homicide, with the getaway car crashing into a tree. The "robbers" open fire, causing multiple injuries and fatalities.

"We're the crime scene team," says instructor Mike Gremba. "We're here to collect evidence, so we can prosecute them when they're found."

Students are advised by medical and law enforcement professionals.

"You have to know when to let go," says nursing student Lydia Durrett. "You can't always save everyone. You have to make sure you're saving the majority of people, and not just one person."

"You've got to prioritize," adds fellow student Miranda Slebonick. "You've got to do what you can for that person. But if they go, you've got to move on the next person. That's the hardest part."

So many clues to collect. So many wounded to care for. We can be grateful that students are learning what to do, and even more grateful that this scene isn't real.

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