NYS Park Police to conduct simulated mass casualty training at Saratoga Spa State Park
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » New York State Park Police will conduct a simulated training exercise focusing on a mass casualty response at Saratoga Performing Arts Center this spring.
The training will focus on coordination and emergency response during several simulated scenarios envisioning an incident involving injuries to a large number of concertgoers at the venue.
The public should be advised that a noticeable increase in police presence will be visible from 8 a.m. to noon on Sunday, April 30 throughout the exercises near SPAC inside Saratoga Spa State Park.
The exercise will involve personnel from Park Police, New York State Police, Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office, Saratoga Springs City Police and Fire Departments, local EMS Agencies as well as operations staff from Saratoga Spa State Park, Live Nation and SPAC. Additionally, Saratoga Hospital, Albany Medical Center and their regional partners will concurrently be exercising how the simulated event will affect their emergency plans.
The area around SPAC will be closed to the public. All area traffic will be alerted to the exercises at all entry points into the park.
Weapons used during training exercises are incapable of firing a live-duty round.
Park Police are seeking volunteers to portray concertgoers from 7 a.m. to noon that day. Refreshments will be available. Volunteers should provide their name, phone number and email as contact information. Volunteers must provide a signed volunteer service agreement at the time of service. A copy is available online at https://parks. ny.gov/documents/inside-ouragency/PublicDocuments/Permits/VolunteerServiceAgreementEnglish.pdf. Completed volunteer agreements and questions concerning volunteers can be sent to ParksEmergencyMgmt-Exercises@parks. ny.gov.