Dozens of would-be “wounded” were evacuated to Soroka during a large-scale toxicological exercise

Dr. Ehud Davidson, Director of Soroka Medical Center, said, “Soroka Hospital has extensive experience handling mass casualty incidents, and I am proud to have the opportunity to showcase the skills of Soroka’s life-saving teams to professionals from around the world.”

The drill capped the International Conference on Healthcare System Preparedness and Response to Emergencies and Disasters that the Ministry of Health and Home Front Command have held now for four years running. The conference provides professionals from around the world the opportunity to share the latest findings regarding healthcare system preparedness for emergencies and disasters of all types.

During the exercises, dozens of would-be “wounded” with various wounds of various degrees were evacuated to Soroka in a scenario simulating a terror attack at a populated urban facility (in the area near the Ben Gurion University Sports Center) and the leak of a dangerous toxicological substance from a train car.
The visitors were exposed to the activity of the teams at Soroka, at the various treatment sites:

• Trauma and seriously wounded room
• Purification site
• Site for light injuries and stress injuries
• Public information center.

The Emergency Preparedness Team at Soroka works to prepare the hospital for the intake and treatment of conventional and nonconventional wounded in mass-casualty incidents, both in war and peace, with the continued provision of medical treatment as required to all parties coming to the hospital. Team members:

• Ms. Nurit Vaknin, Coordinator of the Emergency Systems
• Dr. Gilbert Sabag, Responsible for Emergency Situations and Director of Surgery B Department

Dr. Moti Klein, Incident Director and Intensive Care Unit Director Prof. Mati Lifshitz, Toxicology Consultant to Soroka

Dr. Ehud Davidson, Director of Soroka Medical Center, said, “The selection of Soroka Medical Center as the site for this important drill is not coincidental, and I am proud of the opportunity we have been given to showcase the skills of Soroka’s lifesaving teams to professionals from around the globe. Soroka has extensive experience handling mass-casualty incidents, such as treatment of the wounded in recent operations, including Operation Protective Edge. Despite this, we need to continue to prepare and practice so that in the event of a real incident, we will be ready for all possible scenarios.”