The University of Southern California’s Student Health teams spearheaded a mass casualty preparedness drill on July 17, 2025, simulating a coordinated emergency response to a large-scale disaster. Under tents marked “Triage,” “Medical Care,” and “Check-in,” USC clinicians, non-clinical staff, and volunteers played critical roles in responding to fictional victims of a mass emergency scenario—testing protocols for both medical and mental health interventions.
Participants wearing neon vests labeled with responsibilities such as “Patient Tracking,” “Check-in,” and “Runner” worked alongside medical personnel and administrative staff. Together, they practiced patient triage, treatment, and psychological support procedures. Color-coded tags were used to prioritize care, a system drawn from national disaster response protocols.
One central hub featured a whiteboard tracking patient status across multiple triage categories—green, yellow, red, blue, and black—demonstrating real-time decision-making and resource allocation. Volunteers acted as injured patients, with roles ranging from physical trauma victims to individuals needing emotional support, testing the campus’s ability to provide both immediate physical care and behavioral health services.
At the Medical Care station, mock patients in wheelchairs were escorted to cot-lined tents where teams of health care professionals from the Department of Family Medicine in the Keck School of Medicine evaluated and simulated treatments. Nearby, mental health professionals from the Department of Psychiatry and the Behavioral Sciences in the Keck School of Medicine of USC engaged with individuals portraying those suffering from psychological distress, ensuring that counseling and emotional stabilization were integrated into the emergency response workflow.
“This drill helps us prepare for real-life emergencies where we’d have to mobilize quickly to save lives—both physically and mentally,” said Thu Nguyen-Knowles, associate administrator for clinical operations in campus health, of Keck Medicine of USC, a key member involved in the coordination effort. “We’re not just training to treat injuries, but also to support our community’s mental well-being during a crisis.”
The event highlighted the importance of interdepartmental collaboration, hands-on training, and the readiness of the USC campus to respond swiftly and comprehensively to a potential mass casualty incident. The drill also reinforced USC Student Health’s commitment to comprehensive care, integrating medical attention with psychological support in times of acute need.
As threats of natural disasters, mass casualty, and public health emergencies remain ever-present, preparedness exercises like this one ensure that USC is not only planning but practicing how to protect its community—both body and mind.