A large-scale exercise preparing for an unconventional terror attack involving a biological agent was held Tuesday at Hadassah Mount Scopus Medical Center. The drill simulated a deliberate terror attack using an unconventional biological substance and was led by the Defense Ministry in cooperation with the Health Ministry and Israel’s emergency and rescue services.
1+During the exercise, Hadassah teams practiced the procedures required from the moment such an incident is identified, including diagnosing victims, providing specialized lifesaving treatment and managing the process through their eventual discharge. Teams from across the hospital’s medical professions and departments participated in the drill.
The exercise at Hadassah Mount Scopus was led by Dr. Shaden Salameh-Youssef, director of the Emergency Medicine Department, and Tehila Oren, the hospital’s emergency preparedness coordinating nurse. At the conclusion of the exercise, evaluators said Hadassah teams demonstrated extensive knowledge and command across all areas of the drill. They added that procedures developed by the hospital for responding to such an extraordinary event will be incorporated as standards into protocols for hospitals throughout Israel.
1+Prof. Yoram Weiss, director-general of Hadassah Medical Center, said: “Reality is the best teacher, and Hadassah teams are highly experienced in working during emergencies of various kinds, given their significant role in treating patients during the coronavirus pandemic, victims of terror attacks and those wounded in war. The intensive work and focused preparations by the Mount Scopus team ahead of the exercise proved themselves in the professional and decisive performance on the ground, which will also be incorporated into Israel’s official protocols. We hope for all of us that these exercises remain exercises alone, but in any case, we are prepared for any scenario in which we are required to save lives.”