Experts provide insight into mass-casualty protocol following Chippewa County car crash

CHIPPEWA COUNTY, Wis. (WEAU) – Twenty-five adults and children were injured Wednesday during a school field trip to Bushel and an orchard in Peck.

A tractor pulling two wagons fell down a slope, causing one of the wagons to overturn.

“Fortunately, this doesn’t happen often,” said Robin Shultz.

She is director of patient services for the Marshfield Clinic Health System, which oversees emergency departments in western Wisconsin.

This includes the Eau Claire Medical Center. She was there in person.

“We treated seven patients. We are taking care of them individually. Fortunately, they were discharged in good and stable condition,” Shultz said.

She attributes the good preparation of the emergency room staff to the ongoing training they undergo.

“We are never over-prepared. But we do it often and quickly so we can respond appropriately,” Shultz said.

This training involves all necessary staff, from nurses to doctors and everyone in between. Shultz also said it's helpful if the first responders on the scene who are assessing incoming patients clearly communicate what's going on.

“What do we know about the accident scene? How many patients do we have? What kind of injuries should we expect? How seriously ill or injured are these patients?” asked Shultz.

Casper Bendixsen conducts research on children and farm safety for the Marshfield Clinic Research Institute. He is the director of the National Farm Medicine Center.

He said these activities have become increasingly popular over the years.

“Agritourism is growing. Revenues increased from $704 million to $950 million between 2012 and 2017,” Bendixsen said. “The job has changed. You don't just grow food. You entertain guests.”

He has some recommendations.

“The relationship between adults and children is good in these activities,” said Bendixsen. “All the adults who are responsible for the children have a plan and know how the day will go.”

Bendixsen also said to keep an eye on how the landowner handles work with heavy machinery, including checking whether there are posters or even an emergency plan posted.

WEAU has reached out to Mayo Clinic Health System for comment on the patients being treated but has not yet received a response. We also do not have any further information on the remaining patients who were hospitalized.

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