Mad River Community Hospital: Disaster drill tonight

A man-made or natural disaster can happen at any time, so it is important to prepare, and one local hospital is doing just that.

Mad River Community Hospital in Arcata will hold a disaster drill tonight from 9- 11 p.m. The exercise will have about 25 volunteer “patients” involved in a mock mass disaster incident. Humboldt State University Police, the Arcata Fire District, and United Indian Health Services will be involved, with the goal to test the hospital’s ability to take in, and treat, a large number volume of patients. Hospital officials say the drill will not impact patient care or emergency room services.

Mad River’s Public Relations Coordinator, Tanya Fechner, emphasizes the importance of working with police and fire departments during a high crisis scenario.

Fechner says, “It’s so important to collaborate with other agencies so everyone in the community is prepared and we each have a role during these types of events.” She continues, “So everyone knows what their role is to effectively and efficiently treat these patients.”

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