Hospital Local Agencies Stage a Disaster Drill
June 24, 1977
LASSEN MEMORIAL HOSPITAL and various local agencies joined forces to stage a disaster drill on Tuesday, June 7, to test the hospital facilities in the event of an actual emergency. Twenty “victims” from the Soroptimist Club and the Susanville Infant Emergency Support League assembled on the lawn of the Mormon Church on Richmond Road, where they were equipped with make-up and artificial injuries.
At 9 a.m., the Susanville Fire Dept., the Lassen County Sheriff’s Office, the U. S. Forest Service, the California Division of Forestry, the National Guard, the Susanville Police, the Lucero-Carlson Mortuary, the Bureau of Land Management and Lassen Ambulance Service responded to a call of a tourist bus accident below Bass Hill.
The first crews arrived at 9:05 to administer first aid and prepare the victims for transportation to the hospital. Attendants at the scene were Gary Sahniser, Mike McClanahan, Sue Sherman, Michelle Wise, Bruce Ovitz and Dean Brown. The evacuation was completed by 10:15.
The injured were treated in the emergency room by hospital staff, who then assigned them to specific areas according to their injuries. A similar test was conducted at the Susanville Convalescent Hospital, where victims with minor injuries were taken to be treated as well.
The Fire and Safety Commission along with the various participating agencies will evaluate the drill and make the necessary improvements in the county’s disaster plan. (Advocate photo)
