Dayton Hospital Warns Patients, Nearby Residents: Expect “Gunshot & Explosion” Noises

DAYTON, OH. (THECOUNT) — Miami Valley Hospital patients were advised today of a planned mass casualty drill later this week that is likely to include “gunshot” noises and “loud explosion” sounds Thursday.

The massive drill is being conducted by state and local officials as well as multiple agencies and first responders, who will “practice for a mass casualty scenario,” complete with “participants posing as victims,” said officials.

Real patient care will take precedence over the massive exercise, officials noted.

Officials said to “expect loud noises like gunshots or an explosion,” in and around the area of the hospital, which is located at, 1 Wyoming St, in Dayton, OH .

The exercise will be conducted from around 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, officials warned.

Dayton Daily News is reporting, several Premier Health facilities — Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton, Miami Valley Hospital South in Centerville, Miami Valley Hospital North in Englewood, and Jamestown Emergency Center in Jamestown — will all take part in the expansive exercise.

The full-scale and functional exercise is designed to test and evaluate the ability of hospitals and trauma programs to respond to a large influx of patients from a traumatic event, according to a press release from Premier Health. The exercise will also test the operations of law enforcement and EMS including the use of the Rescue Task Force in responding to a terrorist attack. source

The large scale drill will include agencies from local EMS and law enforcement, as well as the Greater Dayton Area Hospital Association, the Southwest Ohio Regional Trauma System, and the Dayton Metropolitan Medical Response System, the daily reported.