Every two years, FEMA comes to Salem Medical Center to monitor the hospital’s capabilities as the first stop should an accident ever occur at the PSEG Nuclear Plant in Lower Alloways Creek.
“We are PSEG’s medical emergency resource if a disaster or an injury ever occurs,” said CNO Ekene Ejimofor, DNP, MSHCM, RN. “If an exposure or some other accident occurs, we will work with PSEG and all emergency agencies to ensure the proper response to control the situation and save lives.”
When they make their biannual visit, FEMA seeks to ensure that SMC staff are properly prepared to provide care to any person or persons involved in an accident or injury at the nuclear site. The Magenta Drill is a one-day, hands-on test by FEMA to ascertain that our organization is ready with trained employees and proper supplies to react to such a potential disaster.
“From the moment the call comes in from the nuclear plant notifying us of an injury and the need to bring patients to our facility, our team goes into action,” Ejimofor said.
Ejimofor explained that in order to contain the contamination, protective material is stretched from the parking lot, through a special designated ED entrance, and into a designated decontamination room.
“The drill went very well and involved the entire team,” Ejimofor said. “Not only nursing, but everyone from security to facilities to housekeeping and the physicians involved. It’s a production that needs the entire team to be successful. Everyone knew what needed to be done and got it done timely and effectively.”