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Baltimore County First Responders Perform School Bus Accident Mock Drill

BALTIMORE COUNTY, Md. (WJZ) -- Baltimore County first responders teamed up with a host of emergency workers to test their skill. The mock drill involved a school bus and dozens of volunteers.

Gigi Barnett has the story.

An emergency call to the accident was dispatched. Seconds later, a host of emergency workers arrived on the scene of a three-vehicle collision, one of which was a school bus with injured students on board. But this scene was only a mock drill, planned by the Chestnut Ridge Volunteer Fire Company.

All of the decisions made by first responders were done on the spot.

"Those that are going to be responding will know they're coming to a bus accident and that's about it. We've left everything else up to the development of the situation," said Capt. Dan Uddeme, Chestnut Ridge Volunteer Fire Company.

Since the 9/11 terror attacks, first responders say real-life simulations are the best way to make sure they're ready for anything.

Even the youngest volunteers know the purpose.

"What if it really happened and they didn't know what to do? So I think it's a good thing that we came," said Maddi Lord, a volunteer victim.

Firefighters started planning this mock drill about four months ago. In recent weeks, they saw a string of bus accidents across the country, which confirmed their decision to do this kind of simulation.

"There's been four bus incidents in the past week from Philadelphia and down to Baltimore and into PG County that have happened, so this is a very real-life simulation," Uddeme said.

Designed to possibly save lives one day.

The mock drill was funded with a federal grant and private donations.

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