Children covered in blood, some missing limbs, were rushed for treatment after a simulated plane crash in Greenport on Sunday.
The scene at Eastern Long Island Hospital may have looked deadly, but the injuries weren’t real, as Greenport Cub and Boy Scouts stepped up to participate in a Suffolk County-wide Emergency Management Services coordinated drill.
The disaster drills take place at least once a year to ensure that hospitals and emergency responders know how to respond in the event of a real emergency and to ensure all equipment is working properly.
On Sunday, Scouts were “victims” of a simulated airplane crash or disaster, and were tagged with various injuries, including burns, broken bones, and missing limbs, said Pat Kiernan, vice president of development at ELIH.
The Scouts, she said, “loved it”.
She added, “The goal is to make sure not only that everyone responds, but to see that everything is working right, and to identify things we can improve upon in a real disaster.”
Eileen Solomon, Assistant Director Foundation/Community Relations at ELIH, said a review of the event is done after the simulation, with staff involved.
“This year’s drill,” said Kathleen Desbonet, nurse manager of the emergency department for ELIH, “focused on communication,” specifically, on an e-find system, to keep track of patients who have been transferred, as well as communication between the triage nurse and the emergency room.
Desbonet, who is also a Cub Scout den leader, and her husband Eric have two boys, 13 and 8, in Scouting.