Emergency hospital display in Gander

The Department of Health and Community Services is raising awareness of its emergency response capabilities this week by setting up an emergency hospital display at James Paton Memorial Hospital in Gander.

Eight individuals from the Gander area will be trained from Wednesday to Friday in the mobilization and set-up of an emergency hospital. Once the training is complete, visitors will have a chance to view the emergency hospital display and speak with some of the health professionals who are ready to help the people of this province in an emergency situation. The open house will take place on Friday, October 20 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and on Saturday, October 21 from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m..

Roger Grimes, Minister of Health and Community Services, said: "People in Newfoundland and Labrador can feel a level of comfort in knowing that should a major emergency arise or disaster occur, we are ready to respond. The Department of Health and Community Services can avail of health resources like emergency hospital equipment and supplies which Health Canada has placed across the province. I encourage people in the Gander area to attend the open house to see what would be done in the event of an emergency."

Health Canada, as part of the National Emergency Services Stockpile, has strategically placed health resources across Canada to allow for the set-up of 42 emergency hospitals of which three are located in Newfoundland and Labrador. In total, there is about $4 million in emergency health resources stockpiled and available in the province.

Emergency hospitals are well equipped with generators, beds, pillows, blankets, water sterilizers, portable x-ray machines and medical laboratory equipment. During times of emergencies, the Department of Health and Community Services through its Emergency Health Services Division works with its partner organizations, including Health Canada, the province�s Emergency Measures Organization, the Department of National Defence, the Canadian Coast Guard, Search and Rescue and so on.

This is the second emergency hospital training session this year. A training session and open house was held in June at Brinton Memorial School in St. John�s.

Media contact: Carl Cooper, (709) 729-1377.

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