Shiloh
Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: http://www.citizen.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080520/GJNEWS02/687336638/-1/CITNEWS
Acute Care Center drill held for emergency responders
By DONNA RHODES
Article Date: Tuesday, May 20, 2008
The Newfound Area CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) has participated in its first practice drill. Region 6 Emergency Preparedness personnel held a drill on Saturday at the Franklin Middle School for an Acute Care Center, which would be utilized in a public health emergency. Responders from Franklin, Bristol, Tilton-Northfield, Alexandria, Sanbornton, Grafton County Sheriff's Department and state officials ran through plans on how to handle a pandemic flu in which hundreds might need care. In such a scenario the local hospitals would be overloaded and need assistance in handling the caseload.
A command center was established and safety officers were put in place to direct traffic as patients arrived. Responders were assigned to handle planning, communications, finances, public relations and medical needs.
Others at the event posted signs for emergency responders and the public, directing people to where they would need to go for care or to assist in treating the ill. A check-in area was created and staffed to register incoming patients. Following standard Incident Command procedures used in such an event, word was passed swiftly along the chain of command as to what needed to be done.
CERT, under Operations Chief John Pricket, RN, was charged with setting up the clinic itself by assembling cots, blankets and other supplies for the medical staff.
The CERT members were able to set up 34 beds and unload supplies in approximately 30 minutes inside the school's gymnasium. CERT leader Donna Quinn later said she was impressed with the volunteer team and their capabilities, as was Jim Richardson, Regional Emergency Preparedness Coordinator for District 6. Richardson has been working with the team since its start this past January.
The incident also allowed first responders to check communications systems with the Grafton County Mobile Communications unit. Equipped with a satellite dish, computers, up-to-the minute weather information and a host of other technological capabilities, they are able to meet any communications requirements within the area.
The entire drill was completed under the watchful eye of Emergency Management staff, who held a debriefing on the event later that morning. A few minor needs were identified for future reference but on the whole there was nothing but praise for all of the participants. Each department in attendance had plans previously established for handling large-scale emergencies which they were able to refer back to and set into place at this drill.
Before this the plans were only on paper and had not been put to the test in a hands-on scenario. State officials were pleased with the knowledge they possessed as a result of these plans.
Deemed a success, the drill showed a high level of preparedness in New Hampshire's Region 6. Other regions will be holding similar drills to test and perfect procedures in the event of an outbreak of influenza or other public health emergency.
Acute Care Center drill held for emergency responders
By DONNA RHODES
Article Date: Tuesday, May 20, 2008
The Newfound Area CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) has participated in its first practice drill. Region 6 Emergency Preparedness personnel held a drill on Saturday at the Franklin Middle School for an Acute Care Center, which would be utilized in a public health emergency. Responders from Franklin, Bristol, Tilton-Northfield, Alexandria, Sanbornton, Grafton County Sheriff's Department and state officials ran through plans on how to handle a pandemic flu in which hundreds might need care. In such a scenario the local hospitals would be overloaded and need assistance in handling the caseload.
A command center was established and safety officers were put in place to direct traffic as patients arrived. Responders were assigned to handle planning, communications, finances, public relations and medical needs.
Others at the event posted signs for emergency responders and the public, directing people to where they would need to go for care or to assist in treating the ill. A check-in area was created and staffed to register incoming patients. Following standard Incident Command procedures used in such an event, word was passed swiftly along the chain of command as to what needed to be done.
CERT, under Operations Chief John Pricket, RN, was charged with setting up the clinic itself by assembling cots, blankets and other supplies for the medical staff.
The CERT members were able to set up 34 beds and unload supplies in approximately 30 minutes inside the school's gymnasium. CERT leader Donna Quinn later said she was impressed with the volunteer team and their capabilities, as was Jim Richardson, Regional Emergency Preparedness Coordinator for District 6. Richardson has been working with the team since its start this past January.
The incident also allowed first responders to check communications systems with the Grafton County Mobile Communications unit. Equipped with a satellite dish, computers, up-to-the minute weather information and a host of other technological capabilities, they are able to meet any communications requirements within the area.
The entire drill was completed under the watchful eye of Emergency Management staff, who held a debriefing on the event later that morning. A few minor needs were identified for future reference but on the whole there was nothing but praise for all of the participants. Each department in attendance had plans previously established for handling large-scale emergencies which they were able to refer back to and set into place at this drill.
Before this the plans were only on paper and had not been put to the test in a hands-on scenario. State officials were pleased with the knowledge they possessed as a result of these plans.
Deemed a success, the drill showed a high level of preparedness in New Hampshire's Region 6. Other regions will be holding similar drills to test and perfect procedures in the event of an outbreak of influenza or other public health emergency.