Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital

Hangang Sacred Heart Hospital conducted a medical emergency drill against bio-terrorism late last month. The exercise was organized by Hangang, and sponsored by the Seoul Metropolitan City Government and the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(KCDC). The event was joined by the region's fire station, community health center, and police station.

Besides, more than 30 doctors for emergency medicine and infectious diseases across the nation took part in the exercise. The event let an excellent cooperative system amongst hospitals, government agencies and the army against any bio terrorist activities be known to the general public.

The on-the-spot drill included treatment of smallpox patients, management of those infected and protection at hospitals. To improve the ability of each participating organization to cope with bio terrorism, they focused on checking and complementing a real procedure of fighting bio terrorism well in advance.

The field training was designed to simulate an actual situation in which medical institutions learn how to take initial steps when they have victims of bio terrorism and to work closely with related organizations such as the fire station, the army, and the police. By doing so, they are able to seek ways to minimize human and material damage done by bio terrorism.

By Jonghun Im, Int'l Operations Team, HUMC (imjonghun@hallym.or.kr)