ORLANDO, Fla. — The Central Florida Disaster Medical Coalition (CFDMC) is coordinating one of the largest mass casualty exercises in the nation on Thursday, April 10.

The nonprofit said more than 60 Central Florida hospitals, including Orlando Health, will participate in the training event.

The largest training exercise in the state, according to CFDMC, includes local hospitals, county emergency management offices, the CFDMC, the FBI, local law enforcement, EMS agencies, local schools and universities, the Florida Poison Control Hotline, and other partners to conduct a full-scale mass casualty simulation.

Officials said the exercise will take place at hospitals in Brevard, Indian River, Lake, Martin, Orange, Osceola, Seminole, St. Lucie, and Volusia counties.

Approximately 2,400 student volunteers will act as victims wearing makeup to simulate injuries and go into local hospital emergency departments for treatment. Hundreds of other volunteers will help support the exercise.

CFDMC also said emergency management in Seminole, Orange, and Osceola counties will activate their Emergency Operations Centers during the exercise to practice real-time response with participating hospitals.

“The way we train in this exercise is the way we respond to our community in an emergency,” Eric Alberts, Assistant Vice President of Emergency Management at Orlando Health and CFDMC Board Chair, said. “Taking this seriously now makes us better prepared when bad things happen.

The nonprofit said the goal is to make Central Florida the safest place possible to live, work and play.