Medical professionals participate in an emergency preparedness drill at Sutter Amador Hospital in Jackson Wednesday. At this station, participants practice decontaminating patients, represented by blue dummies like the one photographed here, to learn how to safely wash agents from people. Photo by: Bethany A. Monk These "practice patients," each labeled with an injury status, helped health care professionals participating in Wednesday's emergency preparedness training at Sutter Amador Hospital learn how to safely handle and decontaminate potential victims of a bioterrorism incident. Photo by: Bethany A. Monk

He told them there had just been a release of an unknown chemical in the area. The 30 medical professionals from the county and surrounding areas then donned their silver protective gear and rushed to the scene of a mock emergency situation.

Richard Murdock of Mountain Valley Emergency Medical Services was one of the facilitators on hand at Sutter Amador Hospital Wednesday for a mass casualty training exercise, which took place outside on the blacktop near the hospital's emergency room from 8 a.m. until about 5 p.m.

The hospital, in partnership with Mountain Valley Emergency Medical Services, the Amador County Office of Emergency Services and county public health department, hosted the three-day training July 28 through July 30. Thirty-two people participated, including medical and administrative professionals from the hospital and long-term care facilities, professionals from Jackson Rancheria and other county entities, as well as staff from Mark Twain St. Joseph's Hospital in San Andreas and Doctor's Hospital in Modesto.

"Typically, we learn from past events in the state," Murdock said. "It's highly important to educate people in order to prepare and be ready" for an emergency.

The participants learned how to respond to a mass casualty incident requiring the need for full decontamination of patients and staff. The first two days were spent in the classroom with break-out sessions focussing on the skills needed to be a part of a hospital emergency response team, or HERT. The third day, participants "lived" the situation, so to speak, and actually dressed in high level personal protective equipment and practiced decontamination.

"We hope that we would never need (to use these skills)," said Anne Platt, CEO of Sutter Amador Hospital, after she observed one of the drills. It's good, though, she added, that all these people will be comfortable using the emergency response equipment. "I really admire health care professionals for coming out here. ... I'm really glad we could host it here."

"They've really coalesced over the past three days," said public health nurse Lori Jagoda. "They've really, really learned a lot, and have really come together as a team."

The exercise supports the public health department's mission to protect, assess and promote the health and well-being of all Amador County residents, according to a news release from Sutter Amador Hospital. Funding for the training was provided by the Hospital Preparedness Program grant.

"We're slowly adding equipment," said Joyce Friday, the hospital's emergency preparedness coordinator. She and Jagoda are also on the grant committee. They will be able to add an air conditioner soon to the tents where medical professionals perform their emergency drills, she said.