PP 29 EDOC: THE NERVE IN A DISASTER EXERCISE

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:

Hospital Serdang is the coordinating hospital for airport disaster in KLIA. Exercise is often held to prepare hospital and state response to any event.

CASE REPORT

The call came through to MECC to announce KLIA RED ALERT, KLIA RED ALERT, KLIA RED ALERT. The emergency physicians present in the emergency department responded by first choosing a clinical commander and a Medical Incident Cordinator (MIC). An Emergency Department Cordinating Centre (EDOC) was opened. A staff of 4 persons consisting of an ED assistant medical officer supervisor, the hospital sister on call and 2 clerks assisted the Medical Incident Cordinator (MIC). Reports were made to Air Disaster Unit(ADU) and Hospital Operations Room (HOR) that EDOC was opened. Then, coordination of ambulance response from all hospitals in the state was done, together with coordinating request for more ambulance back up from ADU. Almost as soon as this ambulance response was being coordinated, real patients were reported. By this time a Hospital Red Alert was announced, and coordination was also underway to prepare the ED for surge in patient load. Request for more staff, equipment, food was forwarded to Operations Room. Reports of casualties was collected from ADU and forwarded to operations room together with the destinations of dispatched ambulances. Cases coming to Serdang Hospital was communicated to Clinical Cordinator. With 4 walkie talkies and 4 phone lines (with 2 phone lines down), communication was abuzz. All communications was documented by the 2 clerks. Finally final data was tallied from ADU of cases, diagnosis and disposition and forwarded to Operation Room.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

EDOC is the nerve of activity during a disaster. The personnel involved must know their job well, be patient, and have good communication and coordination skills. Team work is the key to a successful disaster exercise.