The goal of the program is to prepare emergency department hospital personnel on managing an influx of victims brought in from mass casualty events.

 

The exercise, which will be held at Rush North Shore Medical Center, 9600 Gross Point Road, Skokie, will focus on creating a realistic, potential situation where a train disaster injures numerous passengers and exposes them to hazardous chemicals.  There will be numerous volunteers participating to enact the various types of patient cases the medical staff may need to triage during a mass casualty scenario.
 
The drill is part of the medical center’s ongoing preparation for emergencies and meets part of its requirement to participate in a regional and community full scale disaster. “The goal of the exercise is to provide hospital personnel with the experience of dealing with the large quantity and severity of cases  that are seen in a disaster in order to better prepare in serving Skokie,” said Rita George, Emergency Management Coordinator.
 
After the exercise, a debriefing session and performance evaluation helps staff understand each scenario, patient outcomes and review clinical operations issues they need to be aware of in a real emergency situation.