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Line worker students join MREA, first responders for real-world emergency drill

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Several emergency responders, offers and M State line worker students lift an "injured patient" on a stretcher into an ambulance as part of an emergency training drill at the M State line worker training field on Friday, April 17, as a group of students and other participants look on.
Emergency responders, local law enforcement officers and students in M State's Line Worker Technology program lift an "injured patient" into an Astera Health ambulance as part of a multi-agency emergency training drill held Friday, April 17 at the M State line worker training field in Wadena.

 

Students in M State’s Line Worker Technology program gained real-world emergency response experience during a large-scale training drill on Friday morning, April 17, at the college’s training field in Wadena.

A group of about 30 line worker students wearing yellow reflective jackets and hard hats, along with several other participants in a large-scale emergency drill training exercise, look on as an ambulance transports an "injured worker" from the scene.
The group looks on as the ambulance transports the "injured patient" from the scene of the drill.

The interdisciplinary exercise was conducted in partnership with the Minnesota Rural Electric Association (MREA) as part of its annual Hot Line School, held at the college this year April 15-17. M State line worker students trained alongside MREA line workers and operations personnel, with local law enforcement and emergency medical responders also participating.

After two days of hands-on instruction, including simulated hot line work, job planning and critical safety practices, the training culminated in a “mayday” drill designed to mirror a real emergency situation. During the simulation, participants followed established emergency procedures and coordinated with first responders, reinforcing the importance of clear communication and rapid response. An ambulance transported an “injured worker” from the scene, adding realism to the exercise for both line workers and emergency personnel.

The annual collaboration gives students firsthand experience with emergency response procedures they may encounter in the field, while reinforcing safe work practices and strengthening essential technical and communication skills.