Sprint Emergency Response Team announced that it has provided equipment and personnel in support of Operation Medical Shelter, sponsored by the Ventura County Public Health Department.
Officials added that this 36-hour Medical Operations training exercise will serve to train first responders, hospitals and volunteer organizations to respond to a catastrophic disaster with efficiency.
In a release, Tanya Lin, operations manager for the Sprint Emergency Response Team (ERT) said, “Reliable communications are vital for first responders, receiving hospitals, and support organizations to best care for victims during the initial period after a disaster. Sprint ERT supports field training exercises such as Operation Medical Shelter to educate, inform and support federal, state and local agencies.”
Sprint ERT offered assistance by deploying data services over satellite from a SatCOLT (Satellite Cell Site on Light Truck) besides providing experienced personnel and arranging for Internet connectivity, for exercise participants and support staff.
Dan Wall, education/training coordinator with the Ventura County Public Health Department’s Emergency Preparedness Office, explained that the objective of this exercise was to increase the strain on the emergency medical system such as police, fire, EMS, and hospitals by simulating an event that caused hundreds of injuries simultaneously and test its efficacy.
“When responding to an event of this magnitude, the reliance on communications to capture patient information, track patients as they are transported to receiving hospitals and have that information seamlessly flow from the scene through the hospital setting is absolutely essential,” Wall added.
According to sources, Sprint ERT maintains a fleet of vehicles capable of offering both voice and data services over satellite and several handsets and devices in inventory, besides having a trained and experienced full-time team that is further supported by more than 1,000 trained Sprint Reservists.
Sprint Nextel offers wireless and wireline communications services for consumers, businesses and government users. It develops and deploys innovative technologies, like wireless 4G services in the United States.
In related news, Sprint recently announced that it has earned ABILITY Magazine’s Best Practices Award for its “innovative implementation of Video Relay Service and for its spirit of inclusion, both in the workplace and in the consumer marketplace.” ABILITY Magazine covers health, disability and human potential.
Edited by
Jamie Epstein
