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DAILY NEWS
May 12, 2008 9:45 PM
Nova Scotia emergency response exercise
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Nova Scotia's emergency responders have practiced procedures needed to help Nova Scotians in a large-scale emergency.
The province, in partnership with the Canadian Forces, Halifax Regional Municipality, the Canadian Red Cross and the Salvation Army, participated in an emergency training exercise on May 2, 2008, at Shearwater. Exercise Staunch Maple provided an opportunity to practice some procedures used in a coordinated response to a mass casualty event.
"The health and safety of our province and its people is of paramount importance," said Health Minister Chris d'Entremont. "That's why emergency preparedness and training, like the kind practiced in this exercise, are essential."
The cruise ship Aphrodite, played by a navy ship docked at the Shearwater jetty, was at the centre of the exercise, which included an on-board explosion, injuries and passengers with legionnaires' disease.
Emergency Health Services "triaged and treated" 70 casualties dock-side. The Canadian Red Cross provided emergency social services, including training volunteers to register and offer services to passengers. Capital Health also treated 40 of the mock patients in two emergency departments -- Halifax infirmary and Cobequid Community Health Centre.
In addition to Staunch Maple, the province will practice assembling a National Emergency Stockpile System mini-clinic. The mini-clinic is a mobile hospital unit that can triage and treat less-seriously injured casualties.
Exercises like Staunch Maple allows groups to sharpen their ability to respond quickly, in a coordinated way, to emergency situations. During exercises, links are established, procedures tested and information shared.
"Through exercises like these, we are able to practice our skills in an extraordinary situation, as well as identify any processes that may be required and put them in place before they are needed," said David Morse, acting Emergency Measures Minister. "That means Nova Scotians can be confident that help will be there when it's needed most."
Exercise Staunch Maple is part of a national and international exercise called Ardent Sentry. Five U.S. states and three Canadian provinces are testing response capabilities to crises ranging from a major hurricane, to a terrorist attack, to a pandemic flu outbreak.
