BSO Trains For Mass Casualty Event In S. Fla. School

POMPANO BEACH (CBSMiami) – Pompano Beach High School had the look and feel of a real-life crisis situation Friday morning with "armed men" on campus, "shots fired" and several students down. But in reality it was a drill honing skills in case a tragedy like this actually happened.

"We know coming into these events there will be a loss of life," Captain Eddie Grant of the Broward Sheriff's Office said. "We want to minimize that doing everything possible to stop it. And save as many people as we can."

During the active shooter training Friday, BSO, its SWAT team, hostage negotiations, fire-rescue, and Pompano Beach Fire all joined forces. While it's only a drill, the recent tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut was still very fresh on the minds of everyone involved in the simulation Friday.

"Obviously, Sandy Hook plays a big part of it, but in any mass casualty, mall shooting, restaurant, schools, this is something could happen anywhere at time," Grant said.

It wasn't just emergency workers that were involved, dozens of students also took part in the drill so they would know what to do in an emergency.

"It's actually going to prepare us if something like this happens," said student Sarah Spardy. "To think of that is terrifying."

What really weighed on the students taking part Friday was that while they were simply acting; the reality the kids at Sandy Hook faced was all too grim.

"It's sad known the gun shot on my leg, a real kid did get one," said student Ruby Pena. "I am just pretending."