Jacobi teams up with U.S. Army for mass casualty drill
training in a Chemical, Biological,
Radiological and Nuclear
(CBRN) Response Enterprise
joint training exercise
at Jacobi Medical Center.
“It is absolutely critical
that our fi rst responders,
emergency prepared people
and our trauma centers are
hyper-aware and hyper-vigilant
and optimally prepared
for the next terrorist incident,”
said Dr. Sheldon Taperman,
MD, trauma medical
director of Jacobi’s Level
1 Trauma Center. “We hope
that does not happen, but that
would be foolish for us to not
be prepared for a bombing,
shooting, or a chemical weapons
attack.”
The drill scenario included
patients (trained volunteers)
who were injured in a terrorist
bomb attack at a mini-marathon
nearby the NYC Health
+ Hospital/Jacobi Medical
Center located at 1400 Pelham
Pkwy South.
Once the training began at
the hospital, a constant fl ow
of ambulances delivered patients
awaiting Army reserve
soldiers who quickly assessed
their injuries, and processed
them through one of two decontamination
lines depending
on the nature of their injuries.
The decontaminated victims
were then sent to medically
trained soldiers for
further care, and then sent
to various area hospitals for
continued treatment.
“They were incredibly
confi dent and well trained.
They brought the decontamination
equipment and they
had many army members
dressed in high tech hazmat
suits,” Taperman said.
According to Taperman,
Jacobi Medical Center has
signifi cant capacity to decontaminate
10-30 people exposed
to chemicals, but with the assistance
of the federal government
more than 100-plus people
could be quickly processed
with their equipment and expertise
in a nuclear disaster
or mass terrorist event.
The training event involved
FDNY personnel, soldiers
from the 413th Chemical
Company, 457th Chemical
Battalion, 415th Chemical Brigade,
soldiers from the 456th
Medical Company (Area Support),
as well as training coordinators
and supervisors
from Army North and L2 Defense.
“In years past the discussion
by New York City offi cials
was that although they are
the biggest city in the country
and the most prepared, they
would still need the Army’s
help in a large scale CBRN
event,” said Russell Accardi,
director of emergency management
programs, L2 Defense.
“That discussion sent
a good message that this type
of training is really important,
and in a real incident of
this nature, the fi rst responders
would count on the Army
coming in to provide crucial
assistance.”
Christopher Mastromano,
chief executive offi cer for the
Jacobi Medical Center, closely
monitored the training describing
it as a fantastic session
with both groups. “It’s
been extremely benefi cial to
our staff. They are always
interested in learning more
and knowing how to get this
right,” Mastromano said.
While many of the soldiers
were busy working at the
hospital scene, others were
involved in a mock subway
disaster with multiple CBRN
victims requiring rescue and
decontamination with the assistance
of FDNY personnel.
BRONX W www.BXTimes.com EEKLY October 27, 2019 4
General Phone: (718) 260-4595
By Mail: Bronx Times Reporter
3604 B E. Tremont Avenue
Bronx, NY 10465
NEWS
Fax: (718) 518–0038
E-Mail: bronxtimes@cnglocal.com
DISPLAY ADVERTISING
Phone: (718) 260-4593
Fax: (718) 518–0038
E-Mail: lguerriero@cnglocal.com
CLASSIFIED
Phone: (718) 260–2555
Fax: (718) 260–2549
E-Mail: classified@cnglocal.com
The decontaminated victims were sent to medically trained
soldiers for further care, and then sent to various area hospitals
This newspaper is not responsible for typographical errors in ads beyond the cost of the space occupied by the error. All rights reserved. Copyright © 2018 by Bronx Times Reporter, Inc., a sub sidiary of
News Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc. The content of this newspaper is protected by Federal copyright law. This newspaper, its advertisements, articles and photographs may not be reproduced,
either in whole or part, without permission in writing from the publisher except brief portions for purposes of review or commentary consistent with the law. Postmaster, send address changes to Bronx
Times Reporter, 3604 B E. Tremont Avenue, Bronx, NY 10465
MEMBER:
for continued treatment.
Photo courtesy of NYC Health + Hospitals
Army members dressed in high tech hazmat suits assess patient’s injuries at the mass casualty drill
held at Jacobi Medical Center on Saturday, Sept. 28. Photo courtesy of NYC Health + Hospital
link
/www.BXTimes.com
/www.BXTimes.com
link
link
/www.BXTimes.com
/www.BXTimes.com
link
link
link