ONTARIO COUNTY, NY – At 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 17, UR Medicine Thompson Health, UR Medicine Finger Lakes Health, United Way of Greater Rochester and the Finger Lakes, Ontario County Public Health, the Ontario County Sheriff’s Office, and the Canandaigua Fire Department will collaborate in a coordinated emergency response drill focused on managing large-scale chemical exposure incidents.
Thompson Hospital, located at 350 Parrish St. in Canandaigua, will serve as the host for this exercise and will construct a decontamination area on the campus. The public should expect to see emergency vehicles and a large tent on the west side of the property next to the Emergency Department. Normal hospital operations will continue without interruption throughout the exercise.
The purpose of this drill is to evaluate the readiness of healthcare and community organizations to swiftly respond to hazardous substance releases, whether accidental or intentional. This drill will assess the medical community’s ability to acquire antidotes and medications needed when a nerve agent is suspected, and to quickly decontaminate exposed individuals.
“Emergency preparedness exercises ensure that, as a community, we are prepared for the unexpected,” said Thompson Health Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Kurt Koczent.
This collaborative drill reinforces the region’s commitment to ensuring the safety of residents through ongoing preparedness and coordinated response efforts.
Submitted by Anne Johnston.
