Exercise to Prepare Province for Emergencies

Nova Scotia's emergency responders are practicing procedures needed to help Nova Scotians in a large-scale emergency.

The province, in partnership with the Canadian Forces, Halifax Regional Municipality, the Canadian Red Cross and the Salvation Army, is participating in an emergency training exercise today, May 2, at Shearwater. Exercise Staunch Maple provides an opportunity to practice some procedures used in a co-ordinated response to a mass casualty event.

"The health and safety of our province and its people is of paramount importance," said Health Minister Chris d'Entremont. "That's why emergency preparedness and training, like the kind being practiced in this exercise, is essential."

The cruise ship Aphrodite, played by a navy ship docked at the Shearwater jetty, is at the centre of the exercise, which includes an on-board explosion, injuries and passengers with legionnaires' disease.

Emergency Health Services will triage and treat 70 casualties dock-side. The Canadian Red Cross will provide emergency social services, including training volunteers to register and offer services to passengers. Capital Health will also treat 40 of the mock patients in two emergency departments -- Halifax infirmary and Cobequid Community Health Centre.

In addition to Staunch Maple, the province will practice assembling a National Emergency Stockpile System mini-clinic.

The mini-clinic is a mobile hospital unit that can triage and treat less-seriously injured casualties.

Exercises like Staunch Maple allows groups to sharpen their ability to respond quickly, in a co-ordinated way, to emergency situations. During exercises, links are established, procedures tested and information shared.

"Through exercises like these, we are able to practice our skills in an extraordinary situation, as well as identify any processes that may be required and put them in place before they are needed," said David Morse, acting Emergency Measures Minister. "That means Nova Scotians can be confident that help will be there when it's needed most."

Exercise Staunch Maple is part of a national and international exercise called Ardent Sentry. Five U.S. states and three Canadian provinces are testing response capabilities to crises ranging from a major hurricane, to a terrorist attack, to a pandemic flu outbreak.