July 12, 2009 Delaware City, DE – “Mayday, Mayday, Mayday, this is the vessel ‘DC Test’, ‘DC Test’, ‘DC Test’ located on Delaware River in vicinity of Reedy Island, run aground with injuries, we need immediate assistance”…This is ONLY a drill. Boaters do not like to hear these words over the marine radios channels. Thankfully, this communication will be part of a drill being held by the Volunteer Fire Companies of Delaware City, Port Penn, Goodwill of New Castle, Lower Alloways, NJ, and the Aviation Unit of the Delaware State Police. On Sunday, July 12th, these agencies will practice their marine operations and emergency medical skills to respond to a simulated boat accident on the Delaware River. Additional participation by EMS providers from area volunteer fire companies will enhance the responders’ training and preparedness for dealing with marine incidents. An initiative of the Delaware City Fire Company, in a cooperative effort with the Delaware State Police Aviation Unit, this drill will test the ability of marine rescue personnel, emergency medical technicians, and the Aviation Unit’s rescue swimmers to coordinate marine and aviation rescues to a mass casualty boat incident. Fire and EMS units, along with the DSP Aviation Unit will be dispatched and respond to the scene on the Delaware River. Selected volunteers will play the role of victims with injuries and be hoisted by the DSP Aviation Unit to awaiting medical personnel on land. In addition, marine rescue units will extract the “victims” from the water and transport them to awaiting medical personnel for triage and treatment. The actual transport to the hospital will not occur as part of this drill. Evaluators will assess and report on areas of success and areas for improvement. The drill will last approximately three hours starting at 10:00 on Sunday morning. Additional support for response and exercise activity will come from DNREC’s Fish and Wildlife Section, Holloway Terrace Fire Company, Wilmington Fire Department’s Marine Unit, the American Legion Ambulance Service of Smyrna, Delaware City Police Department, and Volunteer Hose Fire Company of Middletown. On going activity to improve response to marine incidents on the Delaware River is being coordinated with the USCG Area Marine Committee and the Delaware State Fire Chief’s Association’s Marine Response Committee, along with County and State Emergency Management agencies as part of the overall emergency preparedness efforts.