Mercy Air Enhances Readiness Through Critical Response Exercise

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Joint multi-agency training simulates real-life emergency scenarios

BARSTOW, CA – Dec. 11, 2025 — This week, the Mercy Air 66 air medical team, based in Barstow, partnered with Marine Corps Logistics Base (MCLB) Barstow Fire and Emergency Services, local law enforcement agencies, fire departments, and 911 dispatch teams for a comprehensive interagency command post exercise at the MCLB Barstow’s Yermo Annex.

The multi-day, full-scale training exercise, hosted by MCLB Barstow Fire and Emergency Services, simulated various scenarios. Mercy Air’s participation was focused on an active shooter and mass casualty incident response.

“This complex and multi-faceted training brings together our local EMS agencies and improves communications, working relations, and team building,” said Laurie Pearson, Communication Strategy and Operations Officer for MCLB Barstow Fire. “This full-scale regional command training and interoperability exercise was designed to enhance emergency preparedness and rapid response capabilities, testing installation emergency response protocols for critical incidents such as an active shooter.”

Mercy Air routinely engages in joint training with first responders and local agencies to ensure readiness for any emergency and to adapt to evolving challenges. These collaborative exercises reinforce best practices in landing zone safety and patient transport logistics, whether by ground or air ambulance.

“Training through our standard channels made the drill feel real, and that realism is vital when it comes to high-risk, low-frequency situations like the training with MCLB,” said Mercy Air Flight Paramedic and Clinical Base Lead Jennifer Hipolite. “The crews at Mercy Air 66 enjoy participating in these exercises because they strengthen readiness and build camaraderie with our partner agencies. This also allows us to identify any barriers or gaps that may arise and correct them before they have a potential impact on the safety of any patients or the crews responding.”

The Mercy Air team responds when dispatched through a 911 call, a request from a local first responder agency, or a call from a hospital needing an interfacility transfer. The flight team is comprised of a seasoned pilot and a highly trained critical care team consisting of a nurse and a paramedic. On every transport mission, the clinical team carries blood products, which can be administered in flight, if necessary, positively increasing patient outcomes. Accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems (CAMTS), Mercy Air adheres to the industry’s highest standards in safety and clinical excellence and provides lifesaving services without requiring a membership to avoid a costly bill.

“Where seconds make all the difference in saving a life, trainings like these create a lot of muscle memory, so when the call to action is real, we are ready to respond seamlessly and quickly,” said Hipolite. “This gives practical and first-hand experience when responding to any critical incident, big or small.”