The 100 Mile District General Hospital hosted a mock Code Orange Exercise on Feb. 27. A Code Orange is called in a mass casualty situation – when a hospital is anticipating treating a large number of patients due to an accident or other emergency situation.
With the help of students from Peter Skene Ogden Secondary School and members of the 100 Mile Performing Arts Society, BC Emergency Health Services, and staff and physicians at 100 Mile District General Hospital were able to work through an emergency situation that was as close to the real thing as possible. Students played the role of casualties, athletes returning from the BC Winter Games in Kamloops, injured when their bus drove off the icy road to avoid a collision with a moose. BC Emergency Health Service paramedics helped to transport, conduct initial assessments, and care for the “patients.”
While the very nature of emergencies is their unpredictability, it’s essential that hospitals anticipate for the possibility and prepare in advance to provide quality patient care. Timely and efficient response to a Code Orange is essential to saving lives.
The mock exercise was a success and invaluable in showcasing the team’s strengths and where improvements could be made. Based on learning from the exercise, Interior Health will be updating the Code Orange plan at 100 Mile District General Hospital in preparation for future emergency situations.
Interior Health would like to thank Peter Skene Odgen Secondary School, the 100 Mile Performing Arts Society, and BC Emergency Health Services for their participation in making Tuesday’s exercise a success!