LIFEBEAT PARTICIPATES IN MOCK DISASTER DRILL AT OTHER HOSPITALS

LifeBeat, Southeast Missouri Hospital's air medical service, participated Saturday in a mock disaster exercise which involved hospitals at St. Joseph and St. Louis.

The exercise did not interrupt emergency air medical services for the Cape Girardeau area. A backup medical helicopter was stationed at Southeast Missouri Hospital during LifeBeat's absence.

The scenario for "Operation Steel Cure" was a tornado that inflicted devastating damage on the community of St. Joseph. Because Kansas City hospitals were deluged with victims, many seriously injured patients had to be transferred from the St. Joseph area to Christian Northeast Hospital in St. Louis.

According to LifeBeat chief flight nurse Mark Sprigg, the exercise was one of the most massive conducted in Missouri and involved both civilian and military medical and air personnel.

Dr. Michael Hayek, medical director of Trauma Services at Christian Northeast, and chief flight surgeon with the 131st Tactical Hospital Air National Guard, coordinated the one-day event.

LifeBeat was the only civilian air medical helicopter to participate in the St. Louis portion of the drill, said Sprigg.

Victims were brought from St. Joseph to an emergency receiving center at Lambert Airport in St. Louis by a Military C-1320 transport, then transferred by ground to Christian Northeast Hospital.

LifeBeat crew members who participated in the exercise included Sprigg, pilot Bob Campbell, and emergency medical technician Dave Moore.

"It's an honor to be selected for participation in the disaster drill," said Sprigg. "Disasters are never planned, but rapid, appropriate responses to disasters such as this can be planned. In the event of a real thing, advance planning can save much more than time it can save lives."