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Kids prize roles in mock disaster Drills provide emergency workout By VICKI GUARINO Disaster -- it's one of the best things about school for Roosevelt Elementary students. On Wednesday, a half-dozen Roosevelt sixth-graders participated in accident drills for Jackson County emergency medical crews. The mock disaster was a countywide exercise for some 50 to 60 medical workers. As they have for the past two years, Roosevelt students played key roles as the injured. These are highly prized positions, says Principal Ginny Hicks. The annual rite of broken bones, blood and contusions rank with Halloween and Christmas parties as one of the best days of school. "They get to wear make-up," says Hicks, "and some of them really get into playing their roles. "The first day of school the sixth-graders were asking, `when's the disaster drill, when's the disaster drill."' In the first year, youngsters survived the collapse of a set of bleachers. The next year, a plane crashed into the playground. This time, students were hauled to Galls Creek Road for the staging of a car accident involving a toxic chemical spill. Some kids rode in ambulances, others got hosed down in hospital decontamination chambers. "They were all told to bring a change of clothes," says Hicks. So much fun, of course, comes at a price. Kids don't just sign up for disaster; they have to win their jobs through an essay contest. Roosevelt participates in the annual drills through its business partnership with Providence Medford Medical Center -- one of the parties in the mock disaster. Students submit essays to Providence. This year's topic: The most exciting day of your life. "I think the best sight that trip was when we came into Yosemite Park at night and we saw a big field that was very dark, except that at the end was El Capitan," Jon Lang wrote to win a victim's role. "The mountain was lit up by the moon. There were photographers lined down the road taking pictures of that glorious sight." Jennifer Docherty, a Missouri native, described how she progressed from being a poor reader to one of the best in her school, winning a trip to caverns near Branson, Mo., for her efforts. And "victim" Chris Emerson recalled the summer's trip to Disneyland. "So at last we made it," Chris wrote, "we pulled up at Disneyland U.S.A. We walked in the gates, it was a magical feeling. We waited in a short line to get the tickets (Well, when I say short I mean compared to the other rides, especially Space Mountain). I wanted to go on all the rides, which I did do, but I won't get ahead of myself ..." Providence emergency room staff picked the top writers for the disaster. The make-believe chemical spill was just part of the day's drill, which also involved Rogue Valley Medical Center. Ambulance and hospital crews had to treat a second set of victims -- Hedrick Middle School students filled these roles -- from a collapsed merchandise rack at the Talent Wal-Mart store. Although emergency workers routinely study and practice procedures and routines, says Providence spokeswoman Karen Bartalini, real victims -- even if they are only acting -- make the training more valuable. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1998, Medford, Oregon USA