VOL. XV, NO. 2
OCTOBER 26, 1973
Mock Crash Proves Successful
Despite Complications
Despite Complications
By PEG BAER
On Thursday, October 4, about 218 Maine West students participated in Operation Libra, one of the largest simulation air crashes in the Midwest. The students were excused after second period and along with 18 other adults made their way down to B‑wing gym where their wounds were "made up."
The gym was divided into six areas for the victims. There were five area hospitals: Lutheran General, Holy Family, Resurrection, Northwest Community, Alexian Brothers, and the morgue.
Once the people were divided up and got into their respective areas, they were given instructions on how to act and their wounds began to form. By using different kinds of make‑up and pieces of bones and glass, they were able to produce real looking wounds.
Outside there were three United Motor Coach buses waiting to take the victims to the point of the crash. After the students were placed on the bus, the prospective plane made its way to the muddy field on the corner of Algonquin and Mount Prospect Road. At about 12:45 Operation Libra was officially under way.
The purpose of this exercise was to test the Metropolitan Disaster Planning Committee and their emergency resources. The MDPC is made up of communities surrounding O'Hare and the five area hospitals.
On Thursday, October 4, about 218 Maine West students participated in Operation Libra, one of the largest simulation air crashes in the Midwest. The students were excused after second period and along with 18 other adults made their way down to B‑wing gym where their wounds were "made up."
The gym was divided into six areas for the victims. There were five area hospitals: Lutheran General, Holy Family, Resurrection, Northwest Community, Alexian Brothers, and the morgue.
Once the people were divided up and got into their respective areas, they were given instructions on how to act and their wounds began to form. By using different kinds of make‑up and pieces of bones and glass, they were able to produce real looking wounds.
Outside there were three United Motor Coach buses waiting to take the victims to the point of the crash. After the students were placed on the bus, the prospective plane made its way to the muddy field on the corner of Algonquin and Mount Prospect Road. At about 12:45 Operation Libra was officially under way.
The purpose of this exercise was to test the Metropolitan Disaster Planning Committee and their emergency resources. The MDPC is made up of communities surrounding O'Hare and the five area hospitals.
Plans began several months ago for Operation Libra under the direction of Mr. Richard Arthur, Des Plaines Civil Defense Director. He was the chairman of the Disaster Planning Committee and heads the City's Fire Prevention Bureau.
At the scene firemen, paramedics, policemen, and others were busily working to remove all the bodies, dead and alive, from the plane and send them on their way to the various hospitals and the morgue. Tarps were laid out on the ground for the walking injured and those that were beyond hope.
At the hospitals doctors, nurses, and representatives of the operation were on hand to give medical help and diagnose the problems. Some of the victims were admitted to the hospitals; some were treated and released; and others were pronounced dead on arrival.
Although many students and workers didn't take the operation seriously, on the whole, it was a success. It was an experience that will be long remembered in both the minds of the victims and those that participated.
At the scene firemen, paramedics, policemen, and others were busily working to remove all the bodies, dead and alive, from the plane and send them on their way to the various hospitals and the morgue. Tarps were laid out on the ground for the walking injured and those that were beyond hope.
At the hospitals doctors, nurses, and representatives of the operation were on hand to give medical help and diagnose the problems. Some of the victims were admitted to the hospitals; some were treated and released; and others were pronounced dead on arrival.
Although many students and workers didn't take the operation seriously, on the whole, it was a success. It was an experience that will be long remembered in both the minds of the victims and those that participated.
