September 29, 2006

Operation Poseidon prepares MGHers for disaster

Consider this scene: firefighters responding to an early-morning house fire in nearby Everett discover bomb-making materials and maps, leading them to believe a terrorist attack is imminent. Shortly after, a radioactive "dirty bomb" explodes at the CambridgeSide Galleria Mall, injuring more than 250 people. Many victims are brought to the MGH — just miles away from the blast — where they undergo contamination screening, decontamination and treatment.

Fortunately, this was not a real emergency situation, but rather a simulated, citywide disaster drill. Dubbed "Operation Poseidon," the emergency exercise took place Sept. 17 and brought together federal, state and local agencies and other area hospitals to improve responses to and communications during emergency situations.

At right, MGHers care for a volunteer victim.

At the MGH, the drill began with the activation of the Hospital Emergency Incident Command System (HEICS), which is the MGH's emergency management structure. The hospital's response efforts also included deploying the MGH HAZMAT and Radiation Response Teams, setting up the Mobile Decontamination Unit, and activating the Emergency Operations Center in the Trustees Room and the Minor Treatment Area in the WACC. The drill tested many components of the MGH's disaster plan, including communications systems and protocols, real-time response capabilities, securing the hospital campus and interdepartmental coordination.

For more information about emergency preparedness at the MGH, contact Craig Cochran, administrative manager for Emergency Preparedness, at (617) 726-0312 or ccochran@partners.org.