Drill provides for real life preparation
With the Montgomery Business Club set for demolition in July, the building on Ted Gregory Lane served one last community service task as the site of a mass casualty training exercise. In mid-May, the Montgomery Fire Department and 29 students of the Bethesda North paramedic class staged a disaster situation.
In the simulated disaster, 50 people were injured and required emergency care. Paramedic students quickly assessed the severity of the injuries to determine who needed the most critical care first. The procedure, known as triage, moved victims to designated treatment areas where they were rendered medical attention while waiting for ambulances to transport them to area hospitals.
Such a "disaster" is staged annually to test the City’s Emergency Operation Plan and provide valuable experience to Montgomery emergency personnel, area fire departments and Bethesda North Hospital for better preparedness in the event a mass casualty event occurs.
The training also exposes any areas of the Emergency Operation Plan that may need to be modified. Participation in such an event also ensures Bethesda North Hospital meets the stringent requirements for ongoing accreditation by the Joint Commission Accreditation on Hospital Organizations.
Since such an exercise is conducted with the realism of an actual disaster, residents and businesses around the Business Club were notified by letter that the fire department would be conducting the training exercise so those near the site would not be surprised by the emergency apparatus in the area, and so that businesses in the area would not be adversely impacted during the drill.
SIGHTED MAY 16: A Random Act of Kindness
The participants in the May 16 disaster training were treated to a surprise Random Act of Kindness when members of the Masonic Lodge unexpectedly provided water and snacks during the entire exercise. Thanks to the members of the Masonic Lodge for their kindness and support!