First responders participate in active shooter drill at a Newark high school

NEWARK, Calif. (KTVU) - A large contingent of first responders participated in an active shooter drill Thursday at Newark Memorial High School. 

And while it was just an exercise, police say they need to be prepared just in case. 

"It is a horrible reality of what we're living in now. School shootings are a reality and we have to plan for it. We have to plan for saving as many lives as we can," said Newark Police Chief Mike Carroll.  

The start of the drill was in the classroom, which quickly evolved to realistic scenarios in other areas of the school.  Officers came with guns drawn and paramedics were right behind them.  

“We need to be a bit more progressive a little bit more aggressive with getting out medical treatment to our folks as quickly as possible," says Newark Police Lt. Jolie Macias.  

As the day went on the situations became more chaotic. KTVU was in the middle of the action, seeing first-hand what law enforcement might encounter during a similar incident.  

Students played the roles of the injured with realistic looking wounds. Police say one of the main training objectives is working to get EMT's and paramedics into the action sooner.  Because in life or death situations, every second counts and getting care to the wounded quickly is very important.  

"Once the police have stopped the killing, which is priority one, we need to stop the bleeding," said Macias. 

All those who took part in the event know it's a drill.  However, they say in a moment’s notice this fiction can easily become reality.   

"Hopefully we start to see an end of school shootings and a resolution of that issue. But in the meantime, we have to do something to help save students and faculty," said Carroll.  

After the scenario, every member of Newark Police Department will have gone through the active shooter training. From there they will meet with the school district to work on any other safety concerns.