Major "Code Orange" simulation drill at the Montreal General Hospital and the Montreal Children's Hospital of the MUHC

MONTREAL, Oct. 24, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - The Agence de la santé et des services sociaux de Montréal (the Montreal Agency) is proud to partner with the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) to coordinate a major simulation drill of a multiple-casualty event. The Montreal Agency is also pleased to work with two hospitals of the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC)—the Montreal Children's Hospital and the Montreal General Hospital—to test the "Code Orange" protocol.

During the drill, both hospitals will maintain regular services, which is important for both the Montreal Agency and the MUHC. In fact, the Montreal Agency and the MUHC have implemented measures to ensure the continuity of services for users and to decrease the impact that the drill may have on people at the sites involved (e.g., having psychosocial workers on hand, putting up partitions between real patients and actors at the Montreal Children's Hospital, increasing staff numbers, etc.).

The Montreal Agency's emergency measures role

The Montreal Agency coordinates the preparation and execution of public security measures for the health network. It has expertise in planning and implementing emergency measures in all situations. "Although no one wants this type of event to happen in Montreal, it is always a possibility, which is why we are holding this drill today. Thanks to the involvement of many partners, Montreal is joining other major cities that are working to enhance practices already in place and to ensure that everyone is as prepared as possible if a major event occurs in Montreal," explained Michel Garceau, the Montreal Agency's regional emergency measures coordinator.

The drill at a glance

• This is the first simulation drill of this scale to take place in the network.
• The drill will last three hours (8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.).
• The exercise will involve transporting 79 volunteer victims to two Montreal hospitals.
• Following the drill, the Montreal Agency will produce an educational tool with the goal of enhancing the skills of health care workers at Montreal hospitals.

What is a "Code Orange"?
A "Code Orange" is an international code used by health care centres to signal a catastrophe or external emergency. Through the simulation exercise held today, the Montreal Agency is aiming to test how the health care network responds to a major emergency involving multiple victims and to more clearly define the roles of the partners responsible for transporting and receiving casualties.

Partners involved and their roles during the drill

• Montreal Agency: Evaluate the network coordination structure.
• MUHC: Receive and treat the wounded (e.g., validate the triage protocol and validate the intra-hospital patient transfer process).
• Urgences-santé: Transport volunteer victims and evaluate the transfer of casualties as ambulances arrive at the hospital.
• Service de police de la Ville de Montréal: Evaluate crowd control around the site.
• Société de transport de Montréal: Evaluate the transportation of victims by bus.
• Canadian Forces: Prepare the volunteer victims (makeup).

Notes to journalists

For interviews: Go to the Emergency Department of the Montreal General Hospital (entrance located on Des Pins Avenue) to meet with the spokespeople from the Montreal Agency and the MUHC. An advisory announcing a media briefing will follow shortly.

Cameras: To respect personal privacy and ensure the drill runs smoothly, no cameras will be allowed in the Emergency Departments of the two hospitals during the drill.

Press conference: Following the drill, the Montreal Agency and its partners will hold a press conference at 1:30 p.m. at the Montreal General Hospital. An invitation with additional details will follow.

Public message: Throughout the exercise, the Montreal Agency will remind the public that this is a drill, that the volunteer victims are actors and that services at both hospitals will be maintained.

SOURCE: Agence de la santé et des services sociaux de Montréal

Source:
Agence de la santé et des services sociaux de Montréal

To follow the drill on the Web :
www.agence.santemontreal.qc.ca
www.facebook.com/santemontreal
twitter.com/santemontreal (#simulationmtl)
www.youtube.com/Agencedemontreal

Contacts
Montreal Agency
Caroline Dusablon, Communications Advisor
514 286-5709

CUSM
Media Relations Team
514 843-1560