SIDNEY — Numerous agencies and many employees and volunteers will be involved in Friday’s emergency scenario.
Wilson Health Emergency Event Preparation
Wilson Health has several measures in place in preparation for an emergency event. The hospital has an Emergency Operations Plan to ensure the hospital is prepared with an effective response to any emergency event. Hospitals are required to conduct drills annually to prepare for catastrophic events. Wilson Health has “rarely” experienced a real-life decontamination event to the scale of the April 15 exercise.
This drill will provide an opportunity to challenge employees on their on preparation but also to work with community partners. The hospital has had recent exercises that prepare them for managing hazardous materials.
In the fall of 2014, Ebola provided the opportunity to re-educate staff on use of high level personal protective equipment and to create a response system to handle highly infectious materials.
In December 2015, Wilson Health performed a smaller scale Hazardous Materials exercise and invited participation of the HazMat team for Shelby County. Patients were created which allowed staff to perform in appropriate personal protective equipment, activate the decon room and assemble external units to decon patients.
As a result of that drill, it was recognized the hospital needed a quicker system for deconning. Wilson Health has obtained a regional decon unit which will now be permanently housed on campus. This unit can quickly handle several patients both ambulatory and non-ambulatory.
Wilson Health’s goal with any disaster and/or drill is to address the emergency while protecting and continuing to serve its patients and community needs. The hospital employees are looking forward to the opportunity this exercise provides in using their training and preparation for a hazardous event.
Amateur Radio Emergency Services
The Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES) ham radio operators work closely with the Shelby County EMA office, volunteering many hours offering valuable expertise in disaster services. During severe weather events, ARES members keep a watchful eye on developing storms.
They are a vital link during the response and recovery phases of a disaster, providing communications between the Emergency Operations Center and locations such as shelters. These men and women spend many hours of their personal time actively supporting their communities with their amateur radio capabilities. During the full scale exercise, ARES members will offer their services to help with communications wherever they will be asked.
American Red Cross
The American Red Cross be maintaining a presence in the EOC, canteening to support emergency responders and opening a shelter for evacuees affected by the “disaster.” Operations will be supported by Disaster Specialist Marc Cantrell and operated by local disaster volunteers.
The Ohio National Guard
The Ohio National Guard’s 52nd Civil Support Team (CST), stationed at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base in Columbus, Ohio, is one of 57 CSTs across the U.S. and its territories. The 52nd CST’s mission is to support civil authorities during a domestic emergency or incident, whether caused accident or intentional, by identifying Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and high-yield Explosives (CBRNE) agents or substances, assessing consequences, advising on response measures and assisting with requests for state and federal support.
The 52nd CST is a specialized team of 22 full-time Active Guard Reserve (AGR) Soldiers and Airmen who are on call 24 hours a day and can respond from Rickenbacker within 90 minutes of notification. Members receive about 800 hours of training initially and 300 hours of refresher training annually. In addition to emergency responses, 52nd CST personnel routinely support local, state and federal first responders at large public events including Ohio State home football games, Columbus Crew SC home games, multiple marathons and the NFL Hall of Fame Game to name a few.
