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KIRKSVILLE, MO -- One Heartland organization needs the public's help for a big event coming up this weekend.

The Disaster Awareness Response Team, or DART for short, at A.T. Still University is teaming up with local and state emergency management officials for a statewide disaster simulation drill Saturday to practice responding to an emergency situation.

They have just everything they need to conduct the drill, except for one main thing.

They need about 300 volunteers to play the role of victims.

"We will take anyone at this point," said DART Public Information Officer Jason Brown. "We are noticing we are short on young children, we need kids. If you want to participate, please sign up and come out. It will be a lot of fun, and it's a good experience to help out the community."

The group says it needs that many people to participate so the drill can look real.

"It's very realistic, and that's the idea. That's what we need to portray to help our emergency responders understand these situations so when a real event does happen; we'll be able to coordinate and be less of a shock to them when they do see real things," Brown said.

If you're interested in participating in this drill, you must register first at www.atsu.edu/signup.

Then report to the A.T.S.U Thompson Center between 5:45-7:30 Saturday morning to get your make-up done by professional make-up artists. If you have a latex allergy, the artists need to know prior to any make-up being put on you. Breakfast and lunch will be provided.

The event is scheduled from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Spainhower Field in Kirksville and it's open to the public. There will be a helicopter display from Noon to 1 p.m. There also will be free CPR classes in the Ray Miller Elementary School Gym from 8 a.m. to Noon. You must be preregistered for that.