Arnot Ogden Medical Center will conduct a planned mass-casualty drill Wednesday morning, bringing simulated patients, ambulances and emergency activity to the Elmira hospital.
The exercise is scheduled from 9 to 11:30 a.m. Aug. 12 in the ambulance bay near the Emergency Department. Hospital officials stressed that there is no real emergency and said the Emergency Department and main entrance will remain open.
The drill will test the hospital's response to an incident involving many patients at once. Simulated patients may be moved in wheelchairs or on stretchers, and participants will wear protective suits and traffic vests.
A temporary decontamination area will also be established. Signs will be posted outside the hospital to identify the activity as a planned exercise.
Centralus Health said local emergency medical service agencies have been notified about the drill and the expected increase in activity near the hospital.
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