Hospital response during the Red Dragon drill

Area of Science:

• Emergency Medicine
• Public Health Preparedness
• Radiological Incident Response

Background:

• Large-scale radiological dispersal device (RDD) events pose significant public health challenges.
• Effective multi-agency coordination is crucial for managing RDD scenarios.
• Hospital preparedness is a critical component of national security against radiological threats.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the operational readiness of a major metropolitan hospital system for a simulated radiological dispersal device (RDD) detonation.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of inter-agency collaboration during a large-scale radiological incident drill.
• To identify critical lessons learned regarding hospital resource management, decontamination, and patient treatment in a mass casualty radiological event.

Main Methods:

• Conducted a large-scale, multi-agency drill (Red Dragon) simulating an RDD detonation in Milwaukee, WI (March-June 2009).
• Utilized Froedtert Hospital and Children's Hospital of Wisconsin (Level One trauma centers) for simulated triage, decontamination, and treatment.
• Involved approximately 80 simulated victims and assessed hospital resources, inter-agency communication, and operational plans.

Main Results:

• The Red Dragon drill represented the largest multi-agency RDD scenario in the U.S. to date.
• Evaluated the practical application of hospital emergency plans for radiological events.
• Identified specific challenges and successes in managing simulated mass casualties.

Conclusions:

• The exercise provided valuable insights into hospital capabilities and limitations in responding to RDD incidents.
• Highlighted the importance of robust communication and coordination between healthcare facilities and external agencies.
• Lessons learned will inform future preparedness strategies and enhance response protocols for radiological emergencies.