Hospital, First Responders Prepare For The Worst

When you hear sirens of an emergency vehicle, among the first thoughts that come to mind is whether someone has been hurt and is on the way to the hospital.

But what happens when those sirens are for an  emergency situation at the hosptial itself? To plan for such an event, area emergency services agencies converged on Nyack Hospital for a drill that tested their ability to respond to incidents at the hospital and tested the ability of the hospital to cope with problems.

The Nyack Hospital Annual Emergency Preparedness Drill is used to review and evaluate emergency procedures and processes, according to hospital officials.  The drill was conducted in conjunction with the Orangetown and Clarkstown police, Rockland County Sheriff's Department, Rockland County SWAT team, Nyack Fire Department, Rockland County EMS, Rockland Mobile Care, Rockland County Office of Emergency Management, Rockland Paramedic Services and the New York State Department of Health.

This year, the drill consisted of a hostage situation originating in the Emergency Department, and involved setting up the decontamination unit, relocating the emergency room, working with multiple agencies in the county in a joint command center, and treating multiple gunshot victims.

The drill was led by Walter Dusseldorp, safety officer at Nyack Hospital. 

"Working alongside such talented and dedicated emergency personnel in Rockland County, our patients can rest assured knowing that we are collectively working for a "safer tomorrow," said Dusseldorp. "We thank them for their commitment to our community and are proud to be part of this multi-agency program."

Nyack Hospital is a 375-bed community acute care medical and surgical hospital.  Founded in 1895, it is a member of the NewYork-Presbyterian Healthcare System.