Emergency Planning for London 2012 Olympics
The Challenge
With the London 2012 Olympic Games one of the biggest security challenges for the capital’s emergency service is ensuring that designated hospitals in the area, such as our client, the Homerton, are fully prepared to handle large numbers of casualties.
The Solution
As a full-scale training exercise, a mock incident - a chemical explosion - was re-enacted which simulated many casualties and required hospital staff and emergency workers to be decontaminated in special cleaning tents.
While hospital staff tested their response to a large number of casualties coming through the door, Medical Services’ permanent transport desk at the hospital lost all communications and control was instantly switched to our Head Office main operations room and our ambulances were on stand by to support the rescue work. The mock incident was played out at the Excel Centre with ‘casualties’ coming to the hospital throughout the morning. During the exercise the hospital remained open as usual and we continued our normal patient transport service for the Homerton.
Result
Afterwards Cliff Hammond-Reed, Deputy Director of Environment at Homerton Hospital reported:
“On the day, all staff rose to the occasion. It was important to keep the hospital working during the exercise and, in line with the bronze plan of our Major Incident Plan; the team moved their transport desk from the main entrance to the temporary entrance, which worked extremely well. There were no delays caused to patients during the exercise and it was pleasing to see this service run smoothly.”