Hospital staff train for chemical decontamination response
Date: 08/28/2024

Being prepared in the event of an emergency is essential to ensure a proper response. Northern Light Sebasticook Valley Hospital staff recently trained on how to decontaminate patients exposed to a chemical explosion or spill. The training exercise familiarized staff with the process of setting up a decontamination tent with triage areas and stations, walking through scenarios, and going through the emergency preparedness trailer.
“Providing emergency preparedness training is essential to what we do. Several years ago, this training proved invaluable to our staff when there was an explosion at a fertilizer plant in Detroit and the decontamination tent was required to assist in the emergency,” shared Tracy Bonney-Corson, RN, PhD, MBA-H, vice president of Nursing and Patient Care Services. Tracy continued, “We see more than 12,000 patients through our emergency department each year. With the highway nearby, chemical and fertilizer plants in the area, and a flight path above our hospital, and it is inevitable at some point we will see another chemical explosion or spill, and we will be ready to care for our community.“
Staff found the exercise extremely helpful and feel prepared should a chemical event occur.
Watch the WABI-TV news coverage:
Northern Light Sebasticook Valley Hospital trains for chemical disasters (wabi.tv)