Beebe Medical Center, as part of its ongoing efforts to prepare for disasters and emergencies, is planning a disaster drill to take place at 9 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 7, on the hospital grounds at Savannah Road in Lewes. This drill has been rescheduled from Oct. 17 when it was cancelled due to a nor’easter.
The drill scenario will represent the possible impact of a hazardous materials event on Beebe Medical Center that has occurred somewhere else in the community. While local and state hazardous materials emergency teams would rush to the scene in a real situation, it is anticipated that many victims would present themselves to the hospital in need of care.
In the drill, Beebe Medical Center staff will test their response to such a situation. Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps cadets from Cape Henlopen High School will portray victims that arrive at the Emergency Department suffering mock symptoms of an unknown chemical exposure and in need of medical assistance and decontamination.
Those taking part in the drill will be Beebe Medical Center staff and representatives from the state Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC), Sussex County Emergency Medical Services, Sussex County Emergency Operations Center, and local police and fire departments.
“We want to make sure that we are prepared for any disaster that occurs in our community, including one that deals with hazardous materials,” says Cheryl Littlefield, RN, Trauma and Emergency Management coordinator for Beebe Medical Center.
Observers from the community will see fire engines, police vehicles and other signs of emergency activity. During the drill, Beebe Medical Center will continue to operate normally and patient care will not be affected. No neighbor properties will be involved.
Beebe Medical Center also utilizes Everbridge, a mass notification system used by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the American Red Cross and endorsed by the American Hospital Association. The system allows the hospital to contact each employee and physician associated with the medical center by cell phone, pager, home phone, text or email within a matter of minutes.
Messages to the employees or physicians will contain notification of the event and what is expected of them at that time. Questions should be directed to Littlefield at 645-3100, Ext. 5192.
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