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Disaster Drill Day 2 At Metro Airport

DETROIT(WWJ) - About three dozen nursing students and volunteer firefighters volunteered to act as injured plane passengers in a mock disaster drill held Wednesday at Detroit Metro Airport.

David DiMaria, emergency services director at Detroit Metro Airport, said the drill was held to keep first responders prepared for a real plane crash and help them keep their certification from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

"It gives them exposure, and it's very helpful for us," DiMaria said. "We have kind of a combined group of people who know what they should be doing, who recognize the symptoms."

Sameera Sabbagh, a nursing student at Henry Ford Community College, played a woman who's six months pregnant and suffering from third-degree burns. The Dearborn resident said she looked forward to seeing how a triage is performed during emergencies.

"I was a previous EMT, so I never actually got to experience triage," she said. "I learned about it but I never actually saw the process happen."

Along with helping responders keep their certification, officials want to keep the crews sharp and patch up any holes in their plan of attack.

- See video of Tuesday's drill at this link -

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