On the morning of Saturday April 15, 2023, local emergency responders participated in an Active Attack Integrated Response training at a Wellspan facility in Ephrata Township.  The exercise, coordinated by Wellspan and Ephrata Police Department administrators, allowed 200 law enforcement, fire, tele-communicators, emergency medical services and emergency hospital care personnel an opportunity to training in a safe yet realistic environment.   The training was designed to improve the safety and survivability of victims of an active attack or shooter event and increase the coordination and resource integration between the disciplines involved. 

The drill had three on-scene goals:

Stop the Killing:                Neutralize the threat so we can focus on saving lives.

Stop the Dying:                 Take immediate action to slow bleeding and triage victims.

Evacuate the injured:      Get patients to the appropriate medical facilities for treatment.

Responders on scene worked diligently to achieve these goals. 

Members of hospital staff were heavily involved; engaging immediate measures for workplace safety and then employing best practices to ensure rapid, quality life-saving patient treatment.

In response to the exercise, Ephrata Police Chief Chris McKim said, “Every moment counts when an active killer strikes.  I could not be more proud of the Ephrata Area’s emergency and medical services.  Their forward-thinking attitudes with a push toward preparedness, combined with continuous cooperation between services is a recipe for a safer community.”

Law enforcement participants included Ephrata, East Cocalico, West Earl, Lancaster County Sheriff Department, Northern Lancaster Regional, Manor, Elizabethtown, York County Sheriff, East Hempfield and Pennsylvania State Police.  EMS participants included Ephrata, Reamstown, Reinholds, Rothsville, Warwick, Manheim Township, LEMSA and Gordonville.  Fire participants included Lincoln, Pioneer, Akron, Reamstown, Denver and Durlach-Mt. Airy.   New Joy Brethren in Christ Church provided hospitality and an auditorium for de-brief.