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To apply preservation treatments, including digitisation, to a high value and vulnerable Historical collection of items held in the Darwin and Alice Springs libraries so that the items may be accessed without causing further damage to the original items and provide accessibility for stakeholders.
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Please note: this document is part of the Historical Collection and the information contained within may be out of date.
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Northern Territory Department of Health Library Services Historical Collection
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DL HIST 363.34 DIS
1986
ALICE SPRINGS HOSPITAL
DISASTER PLAN
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HISTORICAL COLLECTION
APRIL 1986
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DATE DUE
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DISASTER PLAN ALICE SPRINGS HOSPITAL
lALLIBRARY SEP 1998
Y HEALTH SERVICES
Firs ISBN
CENTRAL LIBRARY 1 4 OCT 1998
TERRn'ORY HEALTH SERVICES
t Edition August 1983 0 7245 1176.8
Revised: April 1986
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SECTION 1.
2 •
3.
4.
5.
CONTENTS
Information Disaster Alert Disaster Plan
Reception of Casualties General Information
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INFORMATION
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SECTION: 11
DISASTER PLAN ALICE SPRINGS INFORMATION
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1.1 IMPORTANTl l
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a)
b)
c) d)
Destroy all old disaster plans.
Read carefully - most of the hospital is involved in some way. Underline your unit's involvement.
Keep for ready use should the need arise.
Please bear with the exercises.
considered essential by all planning.
They are valuable and experts on disaster
e) During an exercise, the disturbance to patient care should be minimal but i t will inevitably occur.
Often eg with bomb alerts, aircraft incidents, there may be an alert call which does not proceed to a disaster notification.
During this time heads of departments may be contacted and asked to remain available at short notice. Equipment should be checked. In the event that a disaster occurs, the full disaster plan will b~ put into effect immediately.
1.2 IMPORTANT AREAS
a) Conference Room, 1st Floor, is the Operations Room and co- ordinating centre during the emergency (phone 2240 or 2292 or 2293) .
The Medical Superintendent, the Director of Nursing, and the Hospital Secretary will be available in the Operations Room.
b) Casualty/O.P.D. Area is the Casualty Receiving and Clearing Area. Casualty has its own Disaster Plan which should be read in conjunction with this plan.
c) Ward 8 may be used as a ward area for convalescent patients who cannot be discharged, if necessary.
d) Specialist O.P.D. Area is for walking casualties, although some of these may be taken to the Community Health Centre.
e) Physiotherapy Department is the temporary morgue if the hospital mortuary is filled.
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DISASTER ALERT
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SECTION: 2 ALERT CALL
2.1 A Disaster Alert will occur when the Medical Superintendent receives confirmation of a possible or impending disaster involving more than 8 victims.
2.2 Reception of Call
The person receiving the call will.
a) Record the details - Immediately notify switchboard (2555).
Switchboard Will:
b) Contact Medical Superintendent commencement of Disaster Alert.
c) Ring 000 - St John Ambulance.
If Alert is to proceed -
and await his
d) Contact Director of Nursing/Nursing Supervisor e) Contact Hospital Secretary
f) Alert Sister in Charge Casualty
g) Contact Regional Director or D.M.o. on call.
2.3 During Disaster Alert Phase a) Medical Superintendent
1 . Liaises Nursing, Officer.
with the
Police, Regional Director, Hospital Secretary and
decision on
Director of the Liaison
2. Ensures that surgeons, anaesthetists, physicians, paediatricians, pathologist, radiologist and pharmacist are alerted.
b)
3.
4.
Ensures that off-duty medical officers and General Practitioners if necessary are alerted and available.
Ensures that the Casualty Department has full and up to date details of the alert.
Director of Nursing/Nursing Supervisor
Ensures whereabouts of key staff, S.I.C. Casualty, off- duty theatre and nursing staff.
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2. Notifies operating theatre staff, r.c.u., Ward Sisters, and c.s.D. of the alert.
3. Prepares to assign staff to Casualty/O.P.D. and X-ray.
4. Prepares to assign staff to Ward 8, if necessary for convalescent patients.
c) Hospital Secretary
1. Contacts Wardsmen Supervisor, Assistant Secretary, Laundry Manager, o.r.c. Charging, and Medical Records Administrator. Checks availability of off-duty wardsmen.
2. Unlocks Ward 8, if necessary, Physiotherapy Department, Kitchen, Typing Pool, Registry, Casualty, X-ray doors.
3. Alerts drivers for lifts and prepares to set lifts to manual control.
d) Wardsmen Supervisor
1. Prepare to bring to Casualty:- i)
ii) iii) iv)
All Patient Trolleys Portable Oxygen Units Drip Stands
Mattresses.
2. Assigns wardsmen to Ward 8 ·and r.c.u. if necessary.
e) s.r.c. Casualty
1. Checks all equipment 2. Checks all staff
3. Unlocks Disaster Cupboard
4. Checks all Casualty Disaster Procedures.
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DISASTER PLAN
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SECTION: 3 FULL DISASTER PLAN
3 .1 In the event that a disaster actually occurs, the Medical Superintendent will . authorise switchboard to proceed with the Full Disaster Plan.
3.2 Switchboard
3.3
3.4
3.5
3.6
a) Curtail all incoming calls
b) Contact all names on Contact List. The list is kept at Switchboard.
Medical Superintendent
a) Proceeds to Operations Room.
b) c)
Recalls all staff as per "Disaster Alert".
Prepares to send out a surgeon and an anaesthetist to the disaster site if requested to do so by the Regional Director.
d) Proceeds to Disaster H/Q.
dispatch liaison officer to Regional (St John Ambulance Control Centre).
Hospital Secretary
a) Proceeds to Operations Room.
b) Recalls all staff as per "Disaster Alert".
Director of Nursing
a) Proceeds to Operations Room.
b) Recalls all staff as per "Disaster Alert".
Wardsmen Supervisor
a)
b)
Complete all procedures as per "Disaster Alert".
Direct all excess wardsmen to remain in Medical Records Department until required.
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3.7
s.r.c.
Casualty (see also Casualty Disaster Plan) a) Send non urgent patients home.b) Move all urgent waiting patients to the Specialists Area of O. P. D. Admit and discharge patients through
the Fire Escape Door.
c) Issue Arm Bands. Red to Medical Officers, Blue to Nurses and Green to Enrolled Nurses.
d) Assign staff - one sister, one M.O. and one enrolled nurse to urgent outpatients.
e) Prepare Casualty Area by:-
i) Moving all seats to Specialist end.
ii) Placing mattresses on centre of there are clear passage-ways Pharmacy and X-ray.
f) Unlock Dangerous Drugs Cupboard.
3.8 Resident Medical Officers
floor, ensuring at entrance to
a) One of the Medical Residents will report to
r.c.u.
b) All other RMO's report to Casualty as soon as possible.
c) Hospital paediatric registrars (a) and one obstetric registrar (b) will remain on duty for all Wards.
Registrars (a) to attend to wards 4, 5, 6, 7, 9 and registrar (b) Wards 1, 2/3.
d) Discharge convalescent patients only as directed by the Medical Superintendent.
3.9 Ward Sisters-in-Charge
a) Discharge convalescent patients only as directed by the Medical Superintendent, in consultation with Resident Medical Officers.
b) Notify Operations Room (2240) of available beds.
3.10 Nursing Staff
a) Recalled staff report to Nursing Administration (1st Floor).
b) Rostered staff report as directed by Ward Sister-in- Charge.
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c) Theatre, Casualty, r.c.u., and c.s.D.
directly to sections.
d) Recalled staff enter by Rear Entrance.
3.11 Yard Staff
Report to kitchen (Ground Floor).
3.12 Cleaning Staff
Report to Kitchen (Ground Floor).
3.13 Laundry Staff
staff report
a) Ensure that EXTRA LINEN is available for Casualty and Wd 8 (if necessary).
b) Excess staff report to Kitchen (Ground Floor).
3.14 Clerical Staff
Report to Typing Pool (1st Floor).
3.15 Administrative Assistant
a) Report to Medical Superintendent.
b) Assume position as Liaison Officer at Regional Disaster H/Q. (St John Ambulance Control Centre).
c) Ensure that the Medical Superintendent is kept informed of all information relating to the disaster.
d) Liaise on behalf of Medical Superintendent with all other groups actively involved with the Regional Disaster Plan.
3.16 Assistant Secretary
a) b)
Report to Hospital Secretary.
Act as delegate to ensure implementation, smooth operation and co-ordination with other Sections re parts 3.6, 3.13, 3.17, 3.18 and 3.23 in this Plan.
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3.17
o.r.c.
Charginga) Take charge of all Clerical Staff congregated in the Typing Pool.
b) Establish that the Senior Technical Officer, M.E.B. and Head Maintenance Officer are available if required.
c) Establish that the Regional Storeman is available.
d)
e)
f)
Assign six clerks to Casualty numbered 1 - 6.
clerk's number should be clearly visible.
Each
Tasks are set out in Section 4.
stationed as follows:
Clerks are to be
three in main Casualty Area
one at corridor exit from Casualty one at Specialist Area door
one at temporary morgue (physiotherapy department) Each clerk should be provided with labels, pen, felt pen, triplicate notebook.
Delegate staff (if available) to man phones Operations Room, Medical Superintendents Hospital Secretary's Off ice and Director of Office.
in the Office, Nursing
g) Instruct any other available staff to remain in Typing Pool until required.
h) Proceed to Casualty Department to act as Ground Floor Co-ordinator.
i) Check that clerical staff are positioned.
ii) Liaise with
s.r.c.
Casualty.3.18 Laundry Manager
a) Assume charge of all yard, laundry and cleaning staff congregated in the kitchen.
b) Allocate runners: i) ii) iii)
2 to Casualty 2 to top floor
2 to Hospital Secretary c) Send 2 men to X-ray to act as lifters.
d) Send 3 men to Wardsmen Supervisor to assist with transport of equipment to Casualty Department.
e) Send half of any other available manpower to Medical Records to be available for any duties in Casualty/X- ray. The other half shall remain in kitchen until required.
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g)
h)
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Ensure that all persons performing specific tasks are labelled clearly, so they are easily identifiable.
If Police not at hand provide guards to all Hospital entrances, in order to restrict unauthorised entrants.
i) 2 to Casualty South
ii) 1 to Casualty Fire Escape iii) 1 to Main Entrance
iv) 1 to Northern (kitchen) Entrance
Send two men to the Physiotherapy Department to act as Mortuary Attendants.
Recall Catering Manager.
Appoint Laundry Supervisor to supply extra linen as required.
Proceed to Upper Floor to act as Upper Floor Co- ordinator.
3.19 Radiologist
Recall all available staff.
Clear X-ray Department.
a) b)
c) Send one Radiographer with a portable unit to Intensive Care Unit.
3.20 Anaesthetist
a) Recall other anaesthetists.
b) Clear I.c.u. beds if possible.
c) Instruct one Medical RMO to remain in I.c.u.
3.21 Pathologist
a) Recall all available pathology staff.
b) Notify Blood Bank (ph: 522277) of situation.
3.22 Pharmacist
a) Recall all available pharmacy staff.
b) Check stocks of Resuscitation Drugs Casualty.
and Fluids in
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3.23 Catering Manager
a) Provide refreshments for Hospital Workers liaising with
o.r.c.
Charging (ground floor co-ordinator) and Laundry manager (upper floor co-ordinator) .b) Provide refreshments for relatives of victims in Nurses Lounge.
c) Take charge of remaining pool of yard, cleaning and laundry staff.
3.24 Social Worker
a) Provide comfort and support to victims relatives and friends in Nurses Lounge.
b) Request services of chaplain and clergy if appropriate.
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RECEPTION OF CASUAL TIES
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SECTION: 4 RECEPTION OF CASUALTIES
4.1 The Senior Surgeon Specialist available will assume initial control of the Casualty Receiving and Clearing Area, until required in theatre: the Assistant Medical Superintendent will then be in charge. The person in charge will be the
"Triage Officer".
4.2 The S.I.C. Casualty will be 2nd in Charge
4.3 The Officer in Char e of Charging will act as Ground Floor Co-ordinator. She he will liaise with S. I. C. Casualty and ensure that all non-medical functions of the Disaster Plan are being fulfilled on the Ground Floor.
4.4 Medical Teams will be comprised of one Medical Officer, one Nursing Sister and one Enrolled Nurse. The teams will be
compiled by the s.r.c. Casualty.
Each team will remain as a unit until the emergency has ended.
Each team in rotation will be allocated a single patient as they are admitted.
The Medical Officers for the first two patients Surgical Registrar will accompany their patients Surgical Ward (9) and remain there.
and the to the
Nursing Staff from these teams will be re-allocated in Casualty, by the s.I.c.
If other Surgeon Specialists are available they should liaise with the Senior Surgeon Specialist.
4.5 Clerk I at Casualty Door will give odd numbers 1, 3, 5, etc and Clerk II at Casualty Door will give even numbers 2, 4, 6 etc to each casualty including "walking" casualties admitted, by tying to the patient (left arm if possible) a label with a number on it. It is also important to write the number on the patients forehead or on some other visible part of the body with a felt pen.
These numbers will identify the patients until the emergency ends.
4.6
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Stretcher Patients will be taken to Dressing Room, Central Casualty Floor Resuscitation Room if necessary.
the Holding Room, Area or into the
4. 7 Clerk I and Clerk II wi 11 direct walking patients to the Specialist's Area of O. P. D. If these patients have to remain in hospital after being treated in O.P.D. they will be taken to another Ward as directed by Medical Superintendent.
4.8 Clerk III will circulate through the stretcher area noting non-medical details of each patient on a triplicate note book, (number, name if known, sex, approx age, build or distinguishing marks, racial group). Particular attention should be given to "Medical Alert Tags" and if any are found advise the Medical Team treating the patient.
4.9 Enrolled Nurse attached to each Medical Team will act as
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recorder for-
the Medical Officer, noting details about injuries, diagnosis and medications given. In addition to th· s the diagnosis, time and dosage of medications given should be recorded clearly on the patients label.I£ surgery is required this should also be made clear on the label.
4.10 Patients will leave Casualty (via X-ray if necessary).
4.11 Clerk IV stationed at the exit from Casualty, X-ray will note the number of the patient and record the diagnosis from the label, note the destination Ward, and send a copy to the Operations Room.
4.12 Clerk V. stationed at Specialist Area Door will note details of walking casual ties and send a copy to the Operations Room.
4.13 Transport Staff will be available from Medical Records.
4.14 D.O.A. 's Vehicles carrying victims who are D.O.A. at the Hospital should be directed to the North Kitchen Door and the bodies should then be transported to the Physiotherapy Department if the Mortuary is full. Any details of the
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deceased will be recorded by the Clerk, who will send a copy of the information to the Operations Room. If any doubt whatsoever exists as to whether a victim is D.O.A. a Medical Officer should be called upon to examine the victim.
Casualties who do not have to remain in hospital after being treated may leave the Specialist Area via the Fire Escape Door, or escorted to Nurses Lounge using available transport staff at Medical Records. Clerk V will note this and advise the Operations Room.
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· GENERAL INFORMATION
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SECTION: 5 GENERAL INFORMATION
5.1 Operations Room
5.2
5.3
a)
b) c)
d)
e) f)
g)
Should keep an updated Staff Check List.
Should assess the need for outside staff.
Should accumulate list of Casual ties, their location and known diagnosis.
Should assign staff to the Relatives Room.
Should notify Ministers of Religion.
Should liaise with Red Cross to secure adequate supplies of donated blood.
Determine response magnitude at all stages.
It is very important that the Medical Superintendent, the Director of Nursing and the Hospital Secretary are available in the Operations Room until the emergency has ended. If, for any reason you have to leave the Operations Room, ensure that you can be contacted quickly.
Victims Relatives
a) The relatives of accident victims should be directed to the Nurses Lounge.
b) The Social Worker should ensure that support and comfort is provided.
c) The Catering Manager will provide refreshments.
Switchboard
a) For the first two hours immediately following the declaration of the Disaster Plan being put into operation, no information will be available in answer to outside enquiries.
b) After this enquiries must be direc,ted to the Medical 'Superintendent in .the Operations Room.
c) Use of switch by all staff must be restricted to essential purposes.
d) Use "runners" as much as possible.
5.4
5.5
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Other Hospital Activities
a) Only services and/or urgent Outpatient cases will be admitted to the Specialist Area of the Outpatient Department. These patients will be admitted and discharged through the Fire Escape Door by the guard.
If the guard has the slightest doubt about the seriousness or the urgency of any particular patient he will consult the Medical Officer seeing Outpatients.
b) All other patients within the Hospital will be placed under the care of the Obstetric and Paediatrics Registrar, until the emergency is over.
If you have any doubts as to what your role is during the emergency consult the Floor Co-ordinator for your floor.
5.6 All staff called into the hospital may need to carry identification to pass road-blocks.
Hospital identification cards are the most suitable form of identification and should be kept available. Lost cards may be replaced upon application to the typist in room eleven on the Administration Floor.
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