HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (April 11, 2013)- Students from The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) College of Nursing will stage a mock disaster drill on Friday, April 12. The annual disaster drill includes several "public health emergencies" that occur during potentially life or death weather and accident related situations. These include exposure to chemical or hazardous wastes, power or gas main leaks, and management of communicable disease outbreaks, which may require quarantine. This year's scenario is a post tornado situation with UAH used as a back up mass casualty site. Cullman Air Evacuation Service, HEMSI, and Kids Care Ambulance will also take part in the drill, along with the campus police. This is the College of Nursing's 10th disaster drill, which is a part of the community health course. The College of Nursing and consultant Ric Wilkinson, will coordinate the drill. Victim triaging and treatment is scheduled from 8 a.m., to 10:30 a.m., in Wilson Hall on the UAH campus. The disaster drill debriefing will be from 10:30 a.m., to 12:30 p.m. The main goals of the disaster drill include:
- Preparation of Baccalaureate nursing students and graduates in emergency response management
- Evaluation of clinical decision making of senior nursing students
- Training students to stage and evaluate disaster simulations as a clinical skill to be transferred into other community and clinical settings
- Collaboration with OEP to improve (campus community) internal emergency response policies and procedures
Promotion of interoperability (combination of all disaster response workers to provide and accept services from other systems) to respond better to disaster emergencies.
