ORISKANY, N.Y. -- First responders from Western New York sharpened their skills in the Mohawk Valley, training as a Rescue Task Force all week at the New York State Preparedness Training Center in Oriskany.

The approach was used by agencies in Las Vegas as they responded to mass shooting there. The responders participating are the women and men who would respond to incidents at New Era Field, the home of the Buffalo Bills.

New York State Preparedness Training Center Assistant Director Bob Stallman said these exercises create better communication between different groups.

"We've gone from forcing, having to really force EMS and the law enforcement to go into these types of events because they didn't do it, they weren't ready. They just hadn't have that training, to now, everybody's like, 'We need to learn this Rescue Task Force. We need to be involved. We need to work together because we know that saves lives,'" said Stallman.

State Police, the Erie County Sheriff's Department, Erie County Medical Services, and other agencies participated.