‘Earthquake and volcanic eruption’ set to strike city
Portsmouth will be hit by an earthquake, a volcanic eruption and a major storm this week – as part of a disaster simulation.
A realistic training exercise, hosted by the University of Portsmouth and The Simex Series Trust, will see national and international emergency response organisations demonstrate how they would deal with a catastrophe in Hampshire.
There turning event, which last year enacted the collapse of the Spinnaker Tower, starts at the university today and runs until Thursday.
SIMEX23 will depict a severe humanitarian disaster including flooding, environmental pollution, collapsed buildings and displacement of people.
Exercises will also take place at other locations around the city.
As an integral part of the exercise, there will be a simulated mass casualty incident at the university’s Centre for Simulation in Health and Care where Nursing and Allied health care professional students will treat patients with a variety of injuries.
A second event tomorrow will have a paediatric focus.
This will involve children travelling in a minibus to the Historic Dockyard for a school trip being brought into the simulated hospital, where they will be triaged and appropriately treated after being involved in a mock road traffic accident on the A27.
Phil Crook, exercise director of The Simex Series and teaching fellow in Crisis and Disaster Management at the University, said: ‘Exercises such as this allow responders to practise their capabilities to be ready for deployment in emergencies of all types.
‘This event is also used as a basis for a significant amount of research into how response can be more effective, training and exercising can be improved and emerging technologies can be incorporated to enhance organisational capabilities.’
Nursing staff and doctors from QA Hospital will join nursing academics and students from medical and drama courses to attend to the ‘casualties’ and gain vital learning experiences.
Melanie Tanner, senior teaching fellow in the School of Health and Care Professions at the UoP, said: Our nursing students will be undertaking the role of a “band five registered nurse”.
‘They can expect a variety of patients with both physical and mental health conditions .’