[The particularity of large-scale simulation: from learning by observation to professionalization]

Area of Science:

• Disaster Medicine
• Emergency Management
• Public Health Preparedness

Context:

• Full-scale exercises are crucial for testing emergency plans.
• Simulations address diverse risks including nuclear, radiological, biological, chemical, and explosive (NRBCe) threats.
• These exercises evaluate the broader health response and health system organization.

Purpose:

• To assess the effectiveness of emergency plans in high-risk scenarios.
• To enhance the integration of hospital care with external disaster response.
• To identify and coordinate critical health and civil security responses.

Summary:

• Large-scale simulations involving NRBCe risks were conducted to test emergency response plans.
• The exercises focused on improving the health response and health system organization.
• Participants learned to integrate external event impacts into hospital care strategies.

Impact:

• Improved understanding of how external disasters affect hospital operations.
• Enhanced coordination between health response and civil security organizations.
• Better preparedness for future mass casualty incidents and public health emergencies.