News and Events

St. Croix EMS & Rescue and Hudson Hospital co-host bio-terrorism training

U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Texas Engineering Extension Service (TEEX) facilitate bio terrorism course in Hudson.

Hudson , WI, April 30, 2007: April 24-26, 2007 St. Croix EMS & Rescue and Hudson Hospital co-hosted a bio-terrorism course. Partnering together, the two agencies were able to work with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Texas Engineering Extension Service (TEEX) – National Emergency Response and Rescue Training Center to bring the course to the Hudson area. Funds were secured through the Department of Homeland Security which covered costs.

The course, Emergency Medical Services – Operations and Planning for Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Incidents, trains Emergency Medical Service (EMS) personnel to properly perform patient triage, transport, and treatment in the event of exposure to chemical, biological, nuclear (radiological), incendiary, and explosive weapons. Participants demonstrated skills in cooperative response with other agencies and reviewed the responsibilities for each agency regarding pre-planning of possible bio-terrorist attacks through hazard analysis’ and the subsequent actions taken after such an event like mass decontamination, treatment and stabilization of injured persons, personal safety for each responder and cross contamination prevention measures.

The course consisted of lectures, small group discussions, demonstrations, participant activities, and task-oriented practical applications using state-of-the-art, computer-driven adult and pediatric human patient simulators.

“The simulations that were employed during the course were phenomenal. Usually in simulation courses, the instructor has to verbally state that a treatment skill has been completed or pretend that certain actions have been taken, like providing advanced medical care and planning. With simulator use, everything in this course was automated. We didn’t have to even speak to the instructors for feedback; the simulator was the “patient”, true in all forms. If we completed a skill, like listening to lung sounds, we could actually hear the “patient” breathing or take a blood pressure and actually see the results of our actions. This was most beneficial during the course”, stated Adam Wojciehowski, Rescue Coordinator for St. Croix EMS & Rescue.

Representatives from St. Croix EMS & Rescue, Hudson Hospital, Eagan Police Department, WITC Nursing program, Hudson Physicians Clinic, Hudson Fire Department, and New Richmond EMS & Rescue attended. More TEEX courses are planned to be offered to St. Croix County Emergency Response agencies in the future.