October 4, 2006 - CBRN Training at SFMH

If you were in the vicinity of the hospital last Tuesday, you might have thought you stepped into a science fiction movie or were in the midst of a chemical spill disaster. In fact, that would not have been far from the truth.

While the staff wearing full protective body suites and masks looked frightening, they were actually hospital personnel from throughout Renfrew County visiting SFMH to hone their emergency response skills in a training exercise.

The practice exercise included erecting a large, mobile, expandable tent in front of the hospital entrance to process the “victims” through. Victims were hosed down inside the tent while front line workers focused on securing the area and containing the threat posed by any toxic substance. Afterwards, the workers were also scrubbed and decontaminated.

These activities were part of a provincial program to ensure that every hospital in Ontario is trained in emergency decontamination techniques as well as donning and doffing the protective gear during a chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear incident.

Sessions were held at other hospitals in the county throughout the week, ensuring that each site has a working knowledge of the equipment and emergency response procedures.

If you would like to know more, information is available on the provincial website at www.health.gov.on.ca. Click the links for Emergency Management Unit and then MOHLTC CBRN Emergency Preparedness Program.