The Disaster Preparedness and Management Unit runs exercises to test and improve the capacity of WA Health in responding to major incidents. Exercises test the communication processes and working relationships between different health services, between the incident site and operations centres, between different areas of the State and between different emergency response agencies. Exercises also increase people's familiarity with their emergency response plans and identify areas for improvement in these plans.

In November 2010 the DPMU conducted 'Exercise Metro Surge'. This exercise tested the capacity of the State to respond to a mass casualty terrorist incident and involved all major metropolitan hospitals, the WA Police, the Fire and Emergency Services Authority, St John Ambulance, Silver Chain, the WA Red Cross blood Service, the Department of Child Protection and other organisations. Over 200 emergency response staff from various organisations were involved.

In addition to large-scale exercises, the DPMU supports individual health facilities in carrying out small-scale Emergo Train System exercises.

For further information, or to get involved in future exercises, contact us.