Vidzemes Hospital tests readiness for chemical emergency

Vidzemes Hospital in Valmiera has tested its readiness to respond to a chemical emergency, LSM reported. Rescue workers and medical staff rehearsed a scenario involving a chemical spill, several casualties and the need to provide urgent assistance.

The exercise was designed to identify which procedures need improvement and what situations require further assessment, so that everyone involved would know how to respond during a real crisis. A detailed evaluation will follow.

The scenario began with the first casualties arriving at Vidzemes Hospital after exposure to a chemical substance. Authorities consider such an incident possible because companies use and transport various hazardous substances.

“Latvia has stocks of chemical substances, and they are also transported through the country. As those who save patients, we must be prepared and know how to deal with chemical substances. These exercises are an excellent way to improve our preparedness,” said Uģis Muskovs, chairman of the Vidzemes Hospital board.

Before an exposed person can enter the hospital, the risk of bringing the hazardous substance inside must be eliminated. A special tent was therefore set up outside the hospital, where people were decontaminated before being handed over to medical staff.

“In the tent, we wash the casualties to remove the chemical substance. We then check whether it has been rinsed off and pass the person on to the medical staff. If the person is clean, washed and no longer has any chemical substance on them, we transfer them further,” said Mārtiņš Lingarts, commander of the Valmiera unit of the State Fire and Rescue Service Vidzeme regional administration.

The exercise involved treating seven casualties while the hospital continued its regular work. The response required not only assistance to the casualties but also measures to ensure that medical staff and rescuers did not come into contact with the hazardous substance.