It was all part of an hour-long, multi-casualty motor vehicle crash drill involving Sleepy Eye Police, Fire and Ambulance Service, Sleepy Eye Medical Center, Springfield Ambulance and North Memorial Air Care.

Sleepy Eye Ambulance Coordinator and Emergency Manager Shari Hittesdorf was in her wheelhouse, directing operations near the Sleepy Eye Arena.

“We do practice drills all the time. Sometimes it’s on a table top. Every two or three years, we try to do a drill of some nature,” Hittesdorf, who has directed such operations for more than 30 years.

“We did a decontamination drill for a mock anhydrous ammonia leak a couple years ago. We’ve done tornado simulations, school bus crashes, a variety of things,” she added. “It’s a really great chance for everyone to work together and review protocol.

Sleepy Eye firefighters Shawn Heiderscheidt, left, and Colton Borth tend to injured motorists Kadence Bowman, left, and Samarah Forster at a disaster drill in Sleepy Eye Wednesday.

“I’ve got some younger staff who have not ever done this sort of thing for real, so it’s a great experience for them. A lot of work goes into these drills, but things turned out really well. I’m very happy and pleased with the way everyone participated and the training they got from it,” said Hittesdorf.

She said Sleepy Eye Medical Center staff also did inpatient care in their incident command system.

“We’ve had disaster drills that were disasters, but you learn from your mistakes. That’s really what this is all about,” said Hittesdorf.

She has taught CPR and first aid classes to students and health care providers for 32 years.

More emergency medical personnel are needed.

“We need them big time. We need more firefighters and health care workers too,” said Hittesdorf.

If interested in joining the Sleepy Eye Ambulance crew or taking first aid or CPR classes, call Hittesdorf at Sleepy Eye Ambulance Service or visit her there. She’ll be happy to explain program requirements.