On Wednesday, March 25, the emergency preparedness committee at Saint Joseph’s East Georgia participated in a mock emergency drill responding to the release of a hazardous substance.

“The response and participation by our community partners was very positive,” says Tim Andrews, emergency preparedness coordinator at Saint Joseph’s East Georgia. “This is part of JCAHO requirements, as well as a mandate from the Department of Homeland Security to participate in such exercises for a variety of ‘disasters’ throughout the year. Every hospital must have emergency preparedness plans in place for disasters ranging from utilities failure, fire and evacuation, natural disasters to weather events or terrorist attacks.”

The four hour mock drill centered around a ‘chlorine gas leak’ from broken cylinders at the Novelis Corporation plant with ‘actors’ — volunteers from Walker Church and Union Point Fire Department — playing the roles of injured employees. Novalis’ emergency response team, the fire departments from Old Salem and Greensboro, the Greene County Hazardous Material team, Green County Emergency Management Association (EMA), 911 Center and EMS responded to ‘rescue’ the victims and transported them to Saint Joseph’s East Georgia where they were decontaminated and triaged to determine the seriousness of injury.

“It’s vital for the organizations and the community to know what to do in a crisis or emergency situation,” says Andrews. “The more practice, the less panic in these situations.”

A community philanthropy campaign is under way to raise $15 million to provide furnishings, equipment and fund indigent care and clinical research programs for a new, state-of-the-art hospital that Saint Joseph’s Atlanta plans to build in the Lake Oconee area. Campaign volunteers are working in partnership with Saint Joseph’s to support the new hospital, which will offer the latest diagnostic, surgical and outpatient services. Without everyone’s participation, it will not be financially feasible for Saint Joseph’s, a non-profit hospital, to go forward with this much needed project. Please help make this dream a reality for our communities. Donations are tax-deductible and pledges may be made over five years. To make a pledge, or if you have any questions, please call Saint Joseph’s Mercy Foundation at 706-999-9920.