2 weeks Ago
This exercise, organized in collaboration with the Gloversville police and fire departments, Fulton County Emergency Management and EMS teams, Fulton County Public Health and the criminal justice class at SUNY Fulton-Montgomery, aimed to enhance disaster preparedness and response. Hospital spokesperson Geoffrey Peck said the mass casualty drill was a success. Everyone came together and recognized the importance of readiness work, as well as the opportunity to enhance preparedness.
“Our goal was to deepen our understanding of how to handle an emergency situation like this, building on what we knew before the drill,” he said. Being prepared and properly trained is essential for responding appropriately to disaster events, said Donald VanDeusen, director of emergency management and security at Nathan Littauer Hospital. “A lot of hard work has been done to prepare for the drill, and we aim to continue these drills on an annual basis — ensuring that both Littauer staff and local emergency response teams are consistently refreshed and knowledgeable on the subject,” he stated in a news release.
“We are better prepared to play a part given our people and resources,” VanDeusen said. He said it’s better to learn from mistakes in a drill than a real-life scenario. Next week, hospital staff and local and county emergency response teams will conduct a “hot wash” to discuss lessons learned and ensure they’re ready for any future events, whether real or simulated.
No services within the Nathan Littauer Hospital network were interrupted during the duration of the simulation. A one-time banker, diner owner and chamber of commerce president, Wally Hart has put on numerous hats over the last 40 years. -.
