BAKERSFIELD — Local high school students were in for a surprise Wednesday as they visited the Kern County Department of Public Health.

Students part of the Youth Leadership Bakersfield thought they were getting a tour of the Public Health Department, instead, they were full immersed into a mock emergency.

Officials helped students through a mock emergency and students have to determine what the emergency is, how it unfolded, and how they can stop it from happening.

Instead of students sitting and learning about what public health does on a day-to-day basis, the students get to actually act out the positions.

Some students said they were confused at first, but really enjoyed the event.

"Public Health does a lot. Definitely one of the more underrated organizations." said student Madhav Raja.