Lafayette General Medical Center Conducting Hazardous Materials Drill

Lafayette General Medical Center will conduct a drill to exercise its chemical exposure response capabilities. The drill, conducted Wednesday, Dec. 10, will depict a large patient exposure to hazardous chemicals and test the hospital’s decontamination process. The public is asked to be aware of this event, which begins at 9 a.m. and will last until approximately noon, so as not to cause any concern with sights and sounds occurring around the hospital that day. There will be no disruption of hospital services.

Hospitals are required by the state to conduct annual drills to prepare for catastrophic emergency events and disasters. Given the large presence of petrochemicals in Louisiana, a mass exposure to hazardous materials through chemical spills is a major concern for health care providers and response teams across the region.

LGMC’s participation is part of a larger-scale statewide drill involving multiple agencies, including the Louisiana Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, law enforcement, fire departments, hazmat responders, public health agencies and numerous hospitals.

This will be the first large-scale hazmat drill that LGMC will be able to utilize its new ER and trauma facilities. Part of those facilities include an outdoor mass shower and decontamination area, new trauma rooms, and personal decontamination shower stall for medical personnel, such as ambulance drivers and physicians.

WHAT: Emergency Drill

WHERE: Lafayette General Medical Center

WHEN: Wednesday, Dec. 10, 9 a.m. to noon