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Scouts participate in Eastern Long Island Hospital emergency drill

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.

Eight Scouts participated in the drill, including six Boy Scouts from Greenport’s Troop 51, and two Cub Scouts from Pack 51.
The drill helped the Boy Scouts fulfill a requirement for their emergency preparedness merit badge, needed to obtain the Eagle Scout rank, she said.
“It was great to have live people simulating real injuries. They were told what to complain of and they did. They were great little actors,” Desbonet said.
Even Damon Rallis, Cubmaster for Pack 51, got into the action, pretending to be a hysterical parent, Debonet said. “They all did a really great job,” she said.
“I think everyone benefits, and the community should know we’re practicing, and we’re here for them,” Desbonet said.
“We always like to work with Scouts, and with the community,” Solomon added.
Eric Desbonet, who helped with the drill, said the kids “had a ball. Who doesn’t like
getting painted up and looking like a victim? We had branches stuck in a Scout’s belly, and pretend  blood,” he said.
The lessons, Rallis said, can save lives. “It was a very good experience for the boys to see how the hospital staff responds professionally in an emergency,” Rallis said.
Added Luca Rallis, 10, “I learned that the doctors and nurses at the hospital work hard to keep prepared for emergencies. I thought it was an interesting experience. My favorite part was when we were in the hospital beds.”
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