Local community health partners conduct disaster response exercise in Pittsfield

PITTSFIELD, Ill. — Illini Community Hospital, Pittsfield Fire Department, Pike County Ambulance, Pittsfield Police Department and Air Evac, conducted a full-scale community response exercise on Thursday, Sept. 29 at Illini Community Hospital.

Melissa Helkey, emergency preparedness coordinator at Illini Community Hospital, said the scenario for the exercise included an exposure by 11 individuals to a hazardous substance requiring triage and treatment from on-scene emergency medical personnel along with decontamination and treatment of patients at Illini Community Hospital’s Emergency Department.

“These exercises ensure that all community health personnel are prepared in the event of an emergency,” Kathy Hull, administrator at Illini, said in a press release. “We thank our community health partners for taking part in this exercise and for all that they do each day to protect the well-being of our friends and neighbors in our communities.”