Yesterday, as a request from our Drama class teacher, we went to Darwin International Airport to be volunteers in an emergency exercise for our city's emergency services.

Apparently there were about 70 of us volunteering, which was pretty cool. There was a simulated air crash, and we were told to get into positions around the two fake aircraft involved. Fires were then set up, and the fire department came along with two nice design firetrucks, and put out the flames. I even saw one of the huge water cannons on top of the firetrucks being used. =3

Us, the volunteers, were given false identities and cards, which told us our condition and what was wrong with us. We then acted out the part as the emergency services came along and helped us. My role was that of 18 year old Conner James Matthews, from Sydney aboard one of the flights which crashed. My leg was broken on the inside, there were grazes and cuts along my body, my right arm was sprained or something, I had back pains, and it hurt to breathe.

But, that's nothing compared to what had happened to one of my classmates. He was unconcious, with an open chest wound, punctured lung, lacerations over his body, his left arm was turned to pulp, and one of his legs was broken in several places.

But yeah, from what I saw as I lay on the ground, the firies were the first to arrive, and it looked as if the ambulances were the last. So, that would suck if it were a proper incident, considering the firies only had the one first aid kit and respirator, and this girl by me had internal bleeding.

But, yeah, the whole thing was awesome. Despite my injuries, I was towards one of the last people taken away from the immediate crash site, and put over to the side tents where the wounded were taken.

As I was being hauled to the tent by stretcher, the newspaper took this great shot of me being carried away, and I look like I'm in pain, but actually I was covering my face from the blistering sun. I appeared in the newspaper and the evening news. ^_^

But, it didn't all go that well, as when I was being loaded into the ambo, my headphones from my Mp3 player got caught, and broke my headphone cords. Yeah, I was listening to music because I got bored. And lying out on the grass and waiting for the emergency services was really comfortable. I almost fell asleep out there. o.o

But, yeah, the article can be written here, and I'll try to find some pictures of that awesome experience. The main article of the even can be found here.

If anything like this comes up where any of you guys live, I tell you now, volunteer for it. It was a barrel of fun. =D