06/01/2026
Today, Umpqua Community College students put their skills to the test in a large-scale Mass Casualty Incident (MCI) simulation alongside regional emergency response partners.
This was only a training exercise — but the learning was very real.
Theater students helped create realistic patient scenarios, emergency responders and nursing students worked side-by-side to triage and provide care, and REACH Air Medical Services even landed a medical helicopter as part of the simulation. Afterward, students and partners gathered for a debrief and lunch to reflect on lessons learned and celebrate a successful exercise.
Effective management of a mass casualty incident requires rapid clinical judgment, strong communication, adaptability and teamwork. Through this hands-on experience, students practiced triage principles, safe and timely interventions, interprofessional collaboration, and strategies to improve patient outcomes under challenging conditions.
A special thank you to our community partners who helped make this experience possible: Roseburg Towing, Central Douglas Fire & Rescue, Roseburg Fire Department, Sutherlin Fire Department, Umpqua Valley Ambulance, Lookingglass Rural Fire District, North Douglas County Fire & EMS, Glide Rural Fire Protection District, REACH Air Medical Services, and Douglas County Emergency Management. Their expertise, mentorship, and commitment to training the next generation of responders provided an invaluable learning opportunity for our students.
Opportunities like this give students access to exceptional real-world training right here in Douglas County and demonstrate the power of collaboration between education and industry. We are proud to offer hands-on experiences that help prepare future nurses, EMTs, firefighters, law enforcement professionals, and other public safety leaders to serve their communities with confidence and skill.
