It was a mock disaster focusing on farm safety and performed as though reality by Knox County EMS as a training exercise, designed to assess the strengths and weaknesses of emergency medical paramedics and technicians.

Some were under the tractor and others were strewn out over the field. The tractor driver had just had a heart attack while driving the tractor through the field full of tobacco workers. However, they could not get out of the way in time and were either injured or killed. The injuries ranged from severe to minor, said EMS Captain Raymond Eldridge, who was on scene during the removal of the 15 participants, volunteers from Knox Central Chapter of FFA, from the grassy field of the Knox Central football field Thursday morning.

This is to test the readiness of the Knox EMS, Eldridge said. As for EMS Chief Joe Bradshaw, it was thumbs up. "I was pleased. We triaged and transported 15 patients to the hospital in less than 30 minutes. I was real proud of that," Bradshaw said. "I would have to score it high."

Bradshaw said it gave some of the personnel some needed experience if a major disaster such as this should happen for real. "It gave Paul Mills, the incident commander some experience," Bradshaw said. "He did a good job." Even after the patients were transported to Knox County Hospital in Barbourville, it didn't end there.

At that point, doctors and nurses jumped into action and treated the injured, making the correct calls for assistance, he said. There were ready and performed their parts, which is treat the injuries as authentic.

"Overall, we were real tickled," Bradshaw said. Bradshaw said he appreciated the student participation and Colyce Hinkle and Johnny Bays for allowing the members of the Agriculture class at Knox Central to participate in the mock disaster as well as the Barbourville Police Department.