When a hospital burns: Drill plays out catastrophe to train responders (Video)

Where there’s smoke, there’s usually fire. But this was not the case at Peconic Bay Medical Center yesterday, where local fire departments conducted an emergency preparedness drill that morning.

Fake smoke filled the rooms on the second floor in a unit closed off from the rest of the building. Volunteers donned makeup and fake burns and hid out around the hospital awaiting rescue.

Even though the smoke was fake and the victims actors and dummies, the importance of the drill was very real for Riverhead firefighters and EMS personnel.

“It sets up a pre-plan for any incident that might happen at the hospital concerning evacuations, regardless of what area of the hospital is effected,” said Riverhead Fire Department First Assistant Chief Kevin Brooks, who coordinated the operation for the department.

With the clock ticking, communication is key, and the rehearsal helps solidify the roles of each responder.

“Each discipline will all gather together to work together to mitigate this to make sure we have safety for everybody involved and accountability for all the patients,” said Bob Delagi, Director of EMS and Public Health Emergency Preparedness Suffolk County Health.

A call went out at 9:15 a.m. for a structure fire at the hospital. Riverhead Fire Department responded and quickly worked to evacuate all the victims. All in all, nine volunteers were rescued from the fire, along with two “mayday” calls for firefighters.

Riverhead Volunteer Ambulance Corps brought four ambulances to the demonstration to transport actors to the appropriate area hospitals.

After the victims were evacuated, the firefighters faced other challenge. A call on the radio announced that the stairwell that they had entered through had collapsed. They would have to find another way out. To complete the drill, firefighters exited the building from a ladder truck against the second floor roof.

Participating in the drill were firefighters from Jamesport, Eastport and Ridge fire departments who were called in on mutual aid. Flanders Northampton Community Ambulance also participated.

PBMC president and CEO Andrew Mitchell said the drill strengthened the hospital’s “robust response to potential major emergencies.”

“The professionalism and expertise demonstrated by all involved was most impressive,” he said, expressing thanks to Riverhead Fire Department, RVAC and Suffolk County Fire Rescue and Emergency Services.