A mock mass-casualty incident will be staged in St. Pierre on Wednesday, October 28, to help ensure health-care teams are prepared to respond to emergencies. 

Southern Health–Santé Sud has coordinated a full-scale emergency preparedness exercise at the De Salaberry District Health Centre. Emergency Preparedness Specialist Jolene Dayholos says the exercise will allow staff to practice responding to an incident involving multiple injured patients. 

"While the exercise will be full-scale for health centre staff, participation by external partners will primarily be simulated. High school students from the local DSFM school have also volunteered to participate by portraying patients, helping to create a realistic training environment for our staff." 

Dayholos says the exercise provides an important opportunity to put emergency response plans into practice in a safe, controlled environment. 

Strengthening emergency response plans 

Dayholos says patient and resident safety remains a top priority for Southern Health–Santé Sud. 

"Emergency preparedness exercises like this are an important part of ensuring our health-care teams have the knowledge, skills and confidence to respond effectively when an emergency occurs. While we hope we never face a situation involving multiple casualties, it is essential that our teams are prepared." 

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She says practicing in a realistic environment allows teams to identify areas for improvement, strengthen communication and coordination, and ensure emergency plans are effective. 

Dayholos adds that building relationships with external emergency response partners is another important part of the exercise. 

"Responding to a major emergency requires a coordinated effort across multiple agencies, and exercises like this help us better understand one another's roles, capabilities and resources." 

Public advised to avoid exercise area 

Residents may notice increased activity around the De Salaberry District Health Centre during the exercise. Dayholos says the Repos Joly parking lot will be used as a staging area for volunteers and may have limited accessibility between 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. 

The health centre will remain open throughout the exercise, and patient care will continue to be a priority. 

"Anyone requiring medical attention should continue to seek care as they normally would. As the site may be busier than usual, we extend thanks to the public for their patience and understanding as staff participate in this important training opportunity." 

Although residents may be curious to watch the mock emergency unfold, the public is strongly encouraged to stay clear of the area to allow volunteers and emergency responders to carry out the exercise. 

Community partners contribute to training 

Dayholos says Southern Health–Santé Sud is grateful to the community and emergency response partners helping make the exercise possible. These include STARS Air Ambulance, provincial Emergency Medical Services (EMS), the RCMP, the St. Pierre and St. Malo fire departments, the Virtual Emergency Care and Transfer Resource Service (VECTRS), and Manitoba Emergency Management Organization (EMO). 

"Their collaboration, expertise, and willingness to participate are invaluable in helping us strengthen emergency preparedness across our region." 

She also thanks the students from École Communautaire Réal-Bérard who have volunteered their time, along with the dedicated health-care staff and everyone involved in planning and coordinating the exercise. 

"Exercises like this are about being ready when our communities need us most. By preparing together, we are building a safer, stronger, and more coordinated emergency response system for the people we serve." 

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