Chemical decontamination was the focus of an emergency preparedness exercise conducted at The Williamstown Hospital on Tuesday afternoon.
Staff from Western Health were joined by the Metropolitan Fire Brigade Decontamination Unit and Newport crew as the hospital responded to a mock scenario designed to enhance response times.
Western Health Emergency Management Co-ordinator, Dianne Dixon said the exercise was a great success.
``We have managed to create a realistic medical scenario here,'' Ms Dixon said.
``We involved volunteers who played the role of patients presenting to the Emergency Department after being contaminated with white powder following an explosion of some type at the nearby beach,'' she said.
``The Mobile Decontamination Unit from South Melbourne was erected outside the hospital and staff were given the opportunity to observe this in action as decontamination was also conducted by MFB personnel.
``The Department of Human Services Emergency Management Branch provided financial support for this exercise.''
Many hospital staff - including Emergency Department and Executive - were directly involved in the exercise, with the "patients" being decontaminated in the shower area outside the Emergency Department.
Three adults and a baby presented as patients requiring decontamination by hospital staff prior to treatment inside the Emergency Department.
``We aimed to identify any gaps in the current decontamination plan for The Williamstown Hospital, to ensure that staff are familiar with personal protective equipment required for decontamination and are able to illustrate safe use of this equipment.
``We also aimed to ensure that staff are familiar with procedures required for effective decontamination of patients.
``Following this successful exercise Western Health is maintaining its high standard of service to the Western Suburbs,'' Ms Dixon said.
``Thanks to our staff, the MFB and all those who helped in this vital exercise,'' she said.
Normal activity continued inside the Emergency Department and hospital throughout the exercise.
