Bitterroot Health will be facilitating an Emergency Preparedness Full Scale Exercise with multiple organizations on Friday, October 18 at the Hamilton High School grounds. Building on the success of previous drills, this event will simulate a Mass Casualty Incident scenario, involving a wide array of community partners committed to enhancing local emergency response capabilities.
“We want the public to be fully aware that the upcoming exercise at Hamilton High School is a planned mass casualty drill involving multiple local organizations,” said Sara Monroe, EMS Manager at Bitterroot Health. “This realistic simulation will feature a significant
emergency services presence, including fire, EMS, air medical teams to name a few, with Bitterroot Health mobilizing resources to provide immediate patient care,” Monroe said.
Participating organizations include the Montana Highway Patrol, Hamilton Police Department, Hamilton Fire Department, Corvallis Fire Department, Victor Fire Department, Stevensville Fire Department, Hamilton High School, Life Flight Network, Community Medical Center, Providence St. Patrick’s Hospital, Rocky Mountain Lab, and the Ravalli County Sheriff’s Office.
“This exercise is not only crucial for meeting regulatory requirements but also essential for honing our Hospital Incident Command System,” said William Torres, EMS Director at Bitterroot Health. “By collaborating with our community partners, we aim to strengthen our emergency response capabilities and ensure readiness for any real-life scenarios, but we want to emphasize that this is not a real emergency. Officials will be onsite to inform the public and ensure there is no confusion. This drill is an important part of our commitment to keeping our community prepared for any situation.”