WHMS Conducts Drill With Atkinson Fire & Rescue

DISASTER DRILL was held last week with West Holt Hospital and Atkinson Fire & Rescue involving a mock three car accident.

ATKINSON, NE — On the evening of Oct. 26th, if you drove past West Holt Memorial Hospital you might have noticed some extra ambulance traffic but without any extra sirens.

Atkinson Fire and Rescue organized a drill scenario to simulate responding to a multi-car accident with multiple casualties.

The scenario was a three-car accident, with three injured passengers in each vehicle. Atkinson Fire and Rescue responded to the accident, along with in-person mutual aide from Stuart Fire and Rescue and virtual mutual aide from O'Neill.

Using actual totaled cars, EMS were able to practice retrieval, stabilization, and transport of the “victims” to local hospitals, including West Holt. Once here, WHMS ER staff, including nursing staff as well as providers from both West Holt and Greater Sandhills family healthcare, were able to continue the simulation with realistic emergency care.

The mock victims were made up of local students, and their moulage (fake injuries) were applied by Janelle Wallinger and the West Holt High School Theater Department.

The goal, as with any drill, was not only to provide EMS and medical staff with a chance to practice procedure in an emergency, but to find areas that can be improved. While this exercise went smoothly, all agencies involved were glad for the opportunity to ensure they are prepared as possible and look for ways to improve their care and service for our communities.

Thank you to everyone who helped organize and participated in this drill.

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