ALMH and Area Agencies Prepared for Biohazard/Chemical Response
Responders tour hospital decontamination unit    

[OCT. 10, 2005]  LINCOLN -- What would happen if a train derailed or if there were a factory accident that exposed people to toxic agents in Logan County?

Advanced planning and preparations for situations that affect the health and safety of citizens is the focus of the Local Emergency Planning Committee. Members of that group, which is made up community leaders, health agencies, law enforcement and first response agencies, toured the decontamination unit at Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital at the conclusion of their quarterly meeting this month.

The unit was assembled more than a year ago under the guidance of ALMH director of Risk Management and Safety Barb Kline and was actually put to the test during the Logan County Emergency Management Agency full-scale, 12-hour Weapons of Mass Destruction exercise that took place on May 8, 2004.

The tour was the first occasion that Police Chief Bob Rawlins, Sheriff Steve Nichols and a number of other members of the group had opportunity to see the unit, as they were making decisions in the Emergency Operation Center during the WMD exercise.

ALMH director of plant operations Dale Wooden assembled the area. It is located in the old ambulance bay space across the alley from the hospital. The separation helps avoid potential contamination of the hospital.

Inside are two separate shower stalls. Protective garments are ready for hospital personnel, cleansing soap; gowns for the victims and oxygen are readily at hand. There is also a custom made collapsible gurney made of PVC pipes and canvas, with a backboard and special shower area to accommodate it.

Emergency Room nursing director Becky Ferguson will oversee training and the operation in the event it is put into use. She said that if a victim comes to the door of the hospital and it is an isolated incident with only one victim, such as in the event of a farm accident, the victim would simply be taken to the unit treated.

If it is the beginning of a potential mass victim incident the hospital will go on controlled access, the doors will locked with no entry except through the emergency room entrance and there will only be two exits and Lincoln Police Department will post officers at the doors.

The City of Lincoln Fire Department Hazmat Mobile Decontamination Unit will be called in to set up outside and perform a pre-wash.

If there are victims in need at the site where the incident has occurred the city fire department will go the site and the Lincoln Rural Fire Department will take over at the hospital site.

Special medical supply packages have been preassembled and are ready for delivery from the hospital if victims need immediate medical attention before being brought to the hospital.

The Rehabilitation Department will be called out to staff the unit.

After decontamination victims will be taken into the hospital for continued treatment. Those in need of urgent care will be sent to the Emergency Room. The next group would go to Same Day Care and walking wounded would be sent to the Rehabilitation Department.

Ferguson said that a training day was scheduled for the hospital employees so everyone would understand what is to take place in the event of a full-scale operation.

The most common causes of hazardous chemical exposures are:
1) Farm/Agricultural
2) Accident, such as truck or train with chemicals
3) Industrial

ALMH is the first and only downstate, small hospital with a decontamination unit.

[Jan Youngquist]

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