7th Annual Statewide Emergency Exercise: November 17, 2005

The seventh annual statewide emergency exercise will be held November 17, 2005 from 0800h to 1200h, and is sponsored by the California Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA). The exercise focuses on a terrorist attack with Improvised Explosive Devices. The usual participants are hospitals, clinics, ambulance services, and county/state agencies. The California Hospital Association will be notifying hospitals throughout the State. For the first time hospital transfusion services are invited to participate even if their hospital elects not to do so.

The "2005 Exercise Guidebook" for the exercise (in PDF or Word format) can be downloaded at www.emsa.ca.gov/dms2/hospambex.asp, Annual Statewide Medical and Health Disaster Exercise Information. Registration is on-line only (pg 21 of the Guidebook). Objectives for Transfusion Service participation are outlined (pg 6). Following the Exercise there is an evaluation form (pg 27) to be returned on-line by Dec. 9, 2005. Registered participants will receive a certificate in Dec/Jan, helpful during JCAHO inspections.

As natural disasters and acts of terrorism become more complex, participation needs to rise to a higher level. The CBBS Disaster Plan can be found at www.cbbsweb.org under Useful Links. A Hospital Supplement will soon be appended to help Transfusion Service participants.

A printable PDF of this notice is available HERE.

ADDENDA: Oct. 13, 2005

If your institution is intending to participate in the EMSA Nov 17 exercise please e-mail the "Intent to Participate" form from the Guidebook to your county RDMHS or County contact. There are e-mail addresses in the workbook (pg. 57 - 62) and in the CBBS Disaster Plan, Appendix F. After the exercise please fill out the evaluation form (beginning pg. 23) for hospital and/or Transfusion Service and mail it to EMSA. E-mail will not work. Good luck.

-CBBS Emergency Preparedness Committee

ADDENDA: Oct. 25, 2005

Please also see the flowchart "Summary of EMSA Guidebook Script" HERE. See also Guidebook with revised evaluation forms (MS Word, PDF), and a separate document containing the evaluation forms only (MS Word, PDF). The primary change is that evaluations will need to be printed and sent to EMSA rather than be submitted online.

ADDENDA Dec. 7, 2005

REMINDERS: Hospitals and Transfusion Services that participated in the EMSA exercise Nov.17 should mail in their evaluation (see the EMSA Guide book for the questions) by Dec. 9, 2005. CBBS Institutional members that were involved should send an After Action report (Disaster Plan Appendix I) to the CBBS Central office. All of this information will be analyzed and shared with the membership. Thank you for your interest.