Fake blood and guns at Regio College Zaandam for large-scale exercise

Shortly after 2 p.m., a mobile phone call from the fire service announced the start of the exercise. At the same time, two seriously injured and screaming victims storm out through the main entrance of the school. For a moment you get an oppressive impression of what it must be like to experience something like this in real life.

Fortunately, there are the reassuring, calm observers in colored vests who keep a close eye on everything, some with notebooks at the ready. It’s not often that public practice takes place on such a large scale.

To prevent panic in the area, matrix signs have been placed explaining that this is an exercise. Furthermore, all control rooms are informed, which can reassure worried callers.

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This is a so-called ‘multi-exercise’ in which various emergency services are involved. The ’emergency circus’ is set in motion by the report of two enforcers passing by by chance on bicycles who see the first injured people coming out of the school. The fire brigade receives the report first and is also the first on the scene, the police and ambulances soon follow.

It is a longer wait for the DSI, the Special Interventions Service, which is called up if there is serious violence, in this case a shooter. The DSI troops are equipped with body armor, helmets and automatic weapons. They must ensure that the disaster site is safely accessible to other emergency services.

About a quarter of the school is still in operation, but it is Friday afternoon so many students are free. In the school, the action is led by safety coordinator Esther Familiar, who busily walks back and forth and sends lost students away or shows an alternative route. Some do not pay much attention to the red and white barrier tape and simply enter the school on their way to a coat rack or locker. By the time the exercise begins, the hall is empty except for the painted victims.

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Participating in the exercise is quite a drastic event for the school. Part of the building is unusable for an afternoon. Moreover, the massive presence of emergency services causes a lot of unrest among students and staff. “We received a request from the fire brigade if we wanted to partially open our school for the exercise. We think it is important to do our bit, so we opened the school.”

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Whether the practice afternoon at the Regional College was useful will be determined later after an extensive evaluation that will follow. And of course everyone who participates in the exercise hopes that the knowledge that has been gathered will never have to be used for a real violent incident.