Springfield, IL  (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – If you see a large number of police, EMS and fire vehicles in the area of Hope Church on Lenhart Road on Thursday, do not be alarmed. Area first responders including Springfield police, fire, ambulance and dispatch will be working with area medical facilities and the Sangamon County Department of Public Health on a mass casualty training simulation between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m.

SIU Department of Emergency Medicine’s division of Emergency Management Services and Pediatric Emergency Medicine along with HSHS St. John’s Hospital and Memorial Health will all participate in the exercise in the 3000 block of Lenhart Road adjacent to Centennial Park. The goal, according to SIU Medicine, is to improve the preparedness and response to a mass casualty incident affecting a pediatric patient population. The organization reports planning and preparation have been extensive to ensure engagement with multiple community participants.