Trust Staff prepare for hazardous emergency

Emergency Department clinical staff from Antrim Area and Causeway hospitals recently completed an intensive one-day course covering the theory and practice of the required emergency response to incidents involving chemical, biological, radiological attacks or spillages.

Outlining the purpose of the training Kellie Liddy, Emergency Planning and Business Continuity Manager at the Northern Trust, said: “Our aim is to ensure that we as a Trust are prepared for every eventuality and staff are confident in providing the required response. An important part of the training is being able to provide the most effective care to patients as soon as possible, whilst protecting the staff involved and keeping the hospital environment safe.”

The practical session of the training involved instruction on the erecting and use of decontamination tents and putting on the decontamination suits.

Kellie added: “Feedback from staff has been good and staff now feel much better prepared to cope with any emergency. Indeed, decontamination tents, located in each of the Emergency Departments can be erected in five minutes and the decontamination suits can be put on and be fully operational within five minutes.”