MODESTO, CALIFORNIA – March 30, 2012--Emergency and Critical Care Department staff at Modesto’s Doctors Medical Center (DMC) recently completed training offered by the Center for Domestic Preparedness (CDP) in Anniston, Alabama. Ten DMC employees including Emergency Department staff Don Wyatt, RN; Leah Tamez, Technician; Ann Lemkuil, RN; Kim Nguin, RN; Marci Adney, RN; Gayle Marci-Lavelle, RN; Kurt Segale, RN; Brad Brewster, RRT; and Amanda Degrendele, RN; and Critical Care Unit RN Susan Wyatt attended a three day, intensive training course at the Alabama facility. They are the core of Doctors Medical Center’s disaster/decontamination team.
The CDP is operated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency and is the only federally-chartered Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) training facility in the nation. The CDP’s Chemical, Ordnance, Biological and Radiological Training Facility (COBRA) is the nation’s only facility featuring civilian training exercises in a true toxic environment using chemical agents. The advanced hands-on training enables first responders to effectively prevent, respond to, and recover from real-world incidents involving acts of terrorism and other hazardous materials.
"The Hospital Emergency Response Training (HERT) and Hands-On Training (HOT) was fascinating", relates Don Wyatt. "We worked with health care professionals from all around the country." Responders participating in CEP training gain critical skills and confidence to respond effectively to local incidents or potential WMD events. Added Ann Lemkuil: "I was taught how to set up an emergency treatment area for a mass casualty incident. We had practical exercises involving real-life scenarios and patients so we could practice what we learned." 1441 Florida Avenue Modesto, CA 95350 Tel 209.578.1211 www.dmc-modesto.com
"Living in Modesto, we might think we’re a safe distance from disastrous events," said Susan Wyatt. "But we do have our own risks when you consider the quantities of pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers used for valley agriculture. Even in the absence of terrorist acts, we could experience an accident resulting in mass destruction."
"I was nervous about the prospect of going into a chamber with [the nerve gas] Sarin," Marci Adney admitted. "But after meeting with the instructors and staff in Anniston, my fears were put to rest because they gave us all of the information and training that we needed to wear the suits and decontaminate patients with confidence. Not only did we receive world-class training from extremely knowledgeable people, but we’ll be able to grow a HERT team that will be able to respond when there is a mass casualty incident."
"I’m proud of our DMC staff for taking on this vitally important addition to the skill set we use here at Doctors Medical Center," said Warren Kirk, Chief Executive Officer. "We are constantly looking for ways to serve our community. I’m sure we all hope we’ll never have to put these skills into practice, but it’s good to know we have the ability to respond if need be."
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Celebrating its 50th year in 2012, Doctors Medical Center of Modesto is a 461-bed acute care hospital located at 1441 Florida Ave. in Modesto, Calif. DMC offers a wide range of services, including cardiology, neurology, emergency and trauma services, women and children’s services, orthopedics, medical/surgical, behavioral health, oncology and critical/intensive care.
For more information about the CDP, contact the CDP External Affairs Office at 256-847-2212.