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National Naval Medical Center Conducts Mass Casualty Drill

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS081101-04
Release Date: 11/1/2008 1:13:00 PM

By Sarah Fortney, National Naval Medical Center Public Affairs

BETHESDA, Md. (NNS) -- Bethesda Hospital's Emergency Preparedness Partnership hosted a training exercise Oct. 30 designed to test the regional disaster response program as well as enhance communication and relationships between federal, state, local and military officials.

"Several incidents throughout Presidential Inauguration Week, ranging from severe weather conditions to improvised explosive device detonations, preceded a catastrophic terrorist attack at Bethesda's National Naval Medical Center (NNMC)."

Fortunately, this scenario did not actually occur; however, it was part of the fourth annual Collaborative Multi-Agency Exercise (CMAX).

Because participants in the drill – more than 1,000 individuals from more than a dozen agencies – would work together in the event of such an emergency, it is important to exchange business cards beforehand, so to speak, Christopher Gillette, command emergency manager explained.

"It's important to conduct such a drill because it provides an opportunity to work with all of our counterparts," said Gillette. "It's about standardization. The more we plan, the more can prepare the readiness."

In chilling temperatures, rescue workers and agency officials worked together in the aftermath of a simulated attack throughout the morning.

Not only did the drill test the partnership's relationship between multiple agencies, it also evaluated available resources, assessment of explosive devices and identification of chemical agents, Gillette noted.

During the drill, which took six months of preparation, workers were informed that a chemical agent had been detected after the simulated explosion, Gillette said. The exercise tested their ability to determine whether they were prepared to transport "dirty" victims following decontamination.

After the "victims" were treated, they were taken via ambulance and helicopter to Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC), Suburban Hospital and Andrews Air Force Base's Malcolm Grow Medical Center.

Volunteers donned torn clothes, powdered their faces and covered themselves in fake blood, abrasions and other disfigurations. On the sidewalk, the volunteers began screaming for help and crying in pain after hearing the sound of a simulated explosion.

Julie Zelman, a nurse, was one of the convincing role players serving as injured. Aside from suffering a large laceration in her forearm, not being able to walk and having symptoms of resulting illness, she said, her character was conscious and alert, unlike several others lying beside her.

Zelman believes the drill allows people to gain confidence that, in the event of an emergency, they will be taken care of.

"I think it's a great experience," she said.

Also participating in the drill were firefighters and rescue workers from NNMC and WRAMC fire departments, Fort Meade Fire and Emergency Services, Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service and Hazardous Response Team/Units and the National Institutes of Health Fire Department and Hazardous Response Team/Units.

Within the first 30 minutes of the exercise, responders had evaluated the scene and began assessing patients, Gillette said. The drilled flowed in a timely manner as responders worked quickly and efficiently.

After nearly 90 minutes, all of the simulated victims had been decontaminated and were being triaged for transportation to other hospitals, NNMC Fire Department Chief Patrick Fleming said.

NNMC's fire department could not take on such a task single-handedly, Fleming said. Workers joined forces today to work as a team, just as they would, had it not been a drill.

"In every drill, you learn something, you improve," he said.

In addition to the events taking place outside the hospital, there were more than 2,500 hospital staff and personnel participating in internal training, Gillette said.

For more news from National Naval Medical Center, visit www.navy.mil/local/nnmc/.