MHS Bleachers Crash – Emergency Services Respond
Manitouwadge Hospital Hapenings
Operation Falling Leaves – Multi-Casualty Training Exercise
Paramedic treats collapsed lung while awaiting transport.
MANITOUWADGE, ON – September 16, Manitouwadge General Hospital, Manitouwadge Fire Department, Superior North EMS and the OPP participated in a Multi Casualty Training Exercise to assess parts of their emergency plans. Operation Falling Leaves involved 13 high school students who were in the auditorium when the bleachers collapsed causing crushing injuries to many of them. Chest wounds, fractured arms and legs as well as facial injuries provided challenging scenarios for all participants. One student was made up to appear to have her head crushed between steel bars and was presumed to have died at the scene. The 12 remaining casualties were treated by paramedics and with assistance of firefighters were transported to waiting ambulances.
X-Ray Technologists readies portable X-Ray machine for a chest X-Ray of a casualty.
As the casualties were brought to the hospital, the facility enacted their external disaster plan and secured the grounds to keep hospital traffic to a minimum and ensure casualties were treated according to the severity of their injuries. All were brought through to triage and then directed for assessments and treatment. Lab and X-Rays were called to perform tests which were simulated, IV’s were primed, chest tubes lined up and organized chaos unfolded as each person was treated and then moved to another location to make room for the next casualty coming in by ambulance.
A subsequent debriefing allowed all participants to share in the lessons learned and provide suggestions to further improve the plan for the next time. The hospital wishes to thank all the participating agencies for their assistance in making this training exercise realistic and educational. In particular, the high school’s assistance and the students great role playing ensured the success of Operation Falling Leaves.
Casualty arrives in triage area at the hospital
Jocelyn Bourgoin
Director of Organizational Effectiveness and Planning
Manitouwadge General Hospital
