LIVINGSTON COUNTY – The Livingston County Department of Health, Noyes Hospital, Livingston County Emergency Medical Services along with other members from the County including the Sheriff’s Department, Emergency Management Services and Public Information Department took part in a community-wide Ebola drill on Tuesday.

According to a press release from the Department of Health, the drill began around 8:30 a.m. when the mock ‘patient’ arrived, seeking services at the Livingston County Department of Health building in Mount Morris.

The Livingston County Department of Health followed through with the correct course of actions including confirmation that an individual with a recent travel history to Sierra Leone presented with Ebola symptoms at the Department. Staff followed protocol to protect others from possible infection by isolating the individual and contacting the Livingston County Emergency Management Services (EMS).

EMS also followed protocol to ensure the health and safety of staff involved with the transport of the individual.

A majority of the drill was spent preparing the two EMS members to interact with the ‘patient’ by donning the appropriate gear for treating someone with a communicable disease.

Each team was evaluated by a person from another team throughout the drill procedure. When the drill was completed, the entire experience was discussed with members from each group during a “hot wash” at Noyes Hospital. The overall consensus of the group was that the drill went very well and some suggestions were made on how to improve the process.

The Livingston County Department of Health will have its own discussion about the drill tomorrow morning to discuss what areas could use improvement in this scenario. This drill truly demonstrated the effort our Livingston County team members put into emergency preparedness.