Patients visiting the hospital for treatment can be rest assured that the staff is prepared for anything.

On August 26, Twin Lakes Regional Medical Center employees participated in a rigorous-training exercise, which helped to fine tune their skills in the event of a disaster.

Twin Lakes Director of Planning and Marketing Bill Oldham explained the skills tests are held on a regular basis. Employees are graded on their performance while the catastrophe is occurring. The make-believe disaster exercises vary from year to year.

“This drill involved a train derailment near Future Designs (421 Quarry Road, Leitchfield),” Oldham detailed. “Many cars are off of the track, and a chemical car is leaking acetone into the air. The persons affected by the derailment were transported to the hospital by private means, or by ambulance. All of the victims had to be decontaminated and the chemical had to be properly contained of.”

The objectives for the exercise was to stress the importance of people reacting properly at a moment’s notice.

“We had to set up Decon and properly decon victims,” Oldham said. “The next step was to send patients to Triage, and treat numerous victims. The area could be overrun with victims. Initiating recall is important. Lastly, the public would have been notified on the status of the disaster.”

Over 30 hospital employees from different specialties (administrative, nursing, cardiopulmonary, etc.) participated in the day’s events. Victims for the fake drill involved 15 Grayson County High School DECA volunteers.