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To: GARY P GROBBEL who wrote (2968)	3/31/2003 5:01:01 AM
From: Steve Misic	Respond to of 3054

Gary, This article says it all. Left it on the Kitchen board also: Steve This is a good read on TVIN <<<< Local hospital workers conduct bioterrorism drill By ELIZABETH SIMPSON, The Virginian-Pilot © March 26, 2003 Last updated 11:03 PM Mar. 25 PORTSMOUTH -- A dozen hospital workers at Bon Secours Maryview Medical Center conducted a drill Tuesday they hope they never use: setting up a decontamination tent for mass casualties. Maryview is one of 15 area hospitals to receive ``decon shelters,'' which were purchased with homeland security funds to prepare the community for potential bioterrorism attacks. The bright-yellow tents, which have been arriving at hospitals during the past three weeks, are just the latest step in emergency planning that began after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Still, the demonstration -- a week after the invasion of Iraq -- forced participants to visualize the unthinkable: a homeland attack that could create lines of people contaminated with chemicals. The victims would enter the tent, disrobe and move through the tent while sprayers removed toxins. The tents were originally scheduled to arrive more than a month ago. But because of the war buildup in the Middle East, the company that makes the tents -- TVI Corp. -- first focused on overseas shipments for use in the war. The timing made this seem like more than just another fire drill. ``It makes you more aware of how prepared we need to be,'' said Antoinette Higgins, a nurse educator at Maryview's Emergency Department. So far, 13 area hospitals have received the tents and training, and two more -- in Gloucester and Newport News -- will be trained today. Hospitals also have been receiving ``personal protective equipment,'' including full suits, masks, gloves, boots and full-face respirators to protect health-care workers from chemical agents. Tom Bradley, coordinator of safety and security at Maryview, said about 30 hospital workers will be trained for six-person decontamination crews, each of which will include an emergency-room nurse. Maryview already has a decontamination room within the hospital, but only two people at a time can use it. The tent -- which costs about $15,000 -- can decontaminate about 10 people at a time, with 20 to 40 moving through in an hour, according to Jim Graham, a safety specialist contracted by TVI to demonstrate the use of the tent. Sprayers built into the tent's sides can shoot water continuously, and nozzles hang down from the ceiling for spot spraying. The 10-by-19-foot tents can be erected by four people in four minutes, and they have one lane for women, one for men, and one for people arriving on stretchers. William Ginnow, program manager for the Hampton Roads Metropolitan Medical Response Team, which coordinates the area's disaster response plan, said hospital crews throughout the area will now conduct mock disaster drills using the tents and equipment, to ensure that hospital employees know what to do if the real thing happens. About 1,200 emergency workers in the region are being fitted for the protective gear -- not just health-care employees but also law enforcers, according to Ginnow. Hospitals also have received a stockpile of drugs, such as antibiotics, to respond to potential bioterrorist attacks. The tents, protective gear and pharmaceuticals were purchased from a pot of $2 million of homeland security money designated for the Hampton Roads region. The medical community also receives funding from other sources for emergency planning, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which provided money to hire additional public health workers. Higgins said signing up to be on Maryview's decon team and agreeing to be vaccinated for smallpox took some consideration of the dangers involved should a disaster come to pass. ``I think the benefits will outweigh the risks,'' Higgins said. ``I want to be prepared.'' Dale Barnes, one of the security officers on Maryview's decon team, didn't give it a second thought when signing up. ``You never know whose family it could be coming through here. It could be yours.'' Reach Elizabeth Simpson at 446-2635 or liz@pilotonline.com pilotonline.com