Simulated school bus crash puts emergency teams to the test at HCA Florida Englewood Hospital
HCA Florida Englewood Hospital conducted a full-scale emergency preparedness drill simulating a high school bus accident, in coordination with the Englewood Fire District and the Charlotte County Florida ARES Amateur Radio group.
The exercise was designed to test and strengthen the hospital’s response to a mass casualty incident, ensuring staff and first responders are prepared to act swiftly and effectively in a real emergency.
Volunteer actors portraying students, teachers and a bus driver were staged at a mock accident scene in the hospital parking lot. Emergency personnel from the Englewood Fire Department responded as they would in a real-life scenario, working alongside hospital staff to triage and treat simulated patients.
“This type of training is essential,” said Dr. Matthew Martin del Campo, emergency medical director at Englewood Hospital. “By conducting regular drills, we can ensure that our team knows how to respond swiftly and efficiently in high-pressure situations, reducing risks to themselves and enabling the hospital to continue delivering excellent patient care.”
The drill was carefully planned to avoid disruption to actual patient care. Hospital operations continued as normal throughout the exercise.
“We train constantly because we know that preparation saves lives,” said Chief Kevin Easton of the Englewood Fire Department. “We were proud to participate in this emergency drill alongside our partners at HCA Florida Englewood Hospital. These realistic training scenarios help us sharpen our skills, strengthen our teamwork and ensure we are ready to respond effectively, no matter the situation.”
The drill is part of Englewood Hospital’s ongoing emergency preparedness efforts and reflects its commitment to the safety and well-being of patients, staff and the community.
Englewood Hospital is part of HCA Florida Healthcare. In times of crisis, HCA Florida Healthcare’s ability to support our response to local needs is a powerful example of the ways in which HCA Healthcare’s national scale and expansive network improve the care we are able to provide for patients and each other.
Learn more about the HCA Healthcare’s Enterprise Emergency Operations Program.