Central Maine Medical Center’s (CMMC) Emergency Department recently held mass casualty incident training to prepare staff for one of the most complex situations a hospital can face.
The simulated scenario involved an explosion at a local mill, sending 18 patients to the hospital by EMS, with injuries ranging from burns and fractures to amputations. Teams focused on the resuscitation of a critically injured 45-year-old woman triaged as a red-tag patient, indicating the highest level of urgency. Although the drill centered on one patient, staff operated as if multiple critically injured patients were arriving at once.
The training included numerous departments and healthcare professionals, including emergency physicians, trauma surgeons, nurses, patient care assistants, nursing educators, radiology, blood bank, phlebotomy and other ancillary services which all participated to reinforce coordination across departments.
“We do this so it becomes muscle memory,” said Meredith Kennedy, director of Emergency Services at CMMC. “When you’re in a high-stress situation, you don’t want to be questioning what comes next. You want your team to move confidently and efficiently.”
Nearly all surviving patients who were victims of the Oct. 25, 2023 mass shootings in Lewiston were treated at CMMC.
Mass casualty trainings are held several times a year, reinforcing the hospital’s commitment to preparedness and patient safety.