Media Advisory - Respiratory outbreak and explosion scenarios to test emergency response to a major disaster
TORONTO, March 28, 2014 /CNW/ - Are Ontario's hospitals and medical first responders prepared for a two-pronged emergency involving a respiratory outbreak combined with a chemical accident in an urban environment?
On Saturday, March 29, a simulation exercise will test the ability of hospital staff, emergency workers and college students to deal with a fictitious explosion that could potentially overwhelm hospital resources during a major respiratory outbreak at the same time.
The simulation, organized and hosted by Centennial College, is intended to show health care professionals how to manage the patient load resulting from an infection outbreak and an explosion that sends hundreds of victims to hospital.
Simulation participants will include Sunnybrook, St. Michael's, Toronto East General and Markham Stouffville hospital physicians, nurses, allied health professionals, security, social work and other crisis support planners, as well as hospital administrators, risk managers and educators. The simulation will draw participants and observers from other institutions across Canada, the U.S. and Italy.
Centennial's Morningside Campus will function as the hospital site for the live exercise involving 350 participants. Students will don realistic make-up and role play as well as work as non-urgent clinic personnel. Students from Centennial College, George Brown College, Liverpool John Moores University (U.K.), the University of Toronto, York and Ryerson University will be working alongside health care professionals in this chillingly realistic simulation.
Media are invited to witness the simulation and speak with participants.
| Date: |
Saturday, March 29 |
| Time: |
9:30 am to noon (live exercise) |
| Location: |
Centennial College, Morningside Campus, Scarborough |
| 755 Morningside Ave. at Ellesmere (1 km south of Hwy 401) |
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| Webcast: |
SOURCE: Centennial College
Media contact: Mark Toljagic, Communications Officer, Centennial College, 416-289-5000, ext. 7142 or 416-605-6012/[email protected]
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