Volunteers needed for May 23 emergency drill

As many as 250 hospital staff volunteers are needed to participate in a medication-dispensing exercise during UC Davis Medical Center’s emergency drill on Tuesday, May 23, from 1 to 4 p.m.

The scenario for the drill involves a rapidly spreading virus in Sacramento that requires the urgent dispensing of an antiviral drug to the hospital’s staff. The medical center’s Department of Pharmacy will conduct its portion of the drill in the University Surgery Center auditorium and classroom. The exercise is intended to test the orderly provision of medications to hospital staff during an emergency requiring rapid drug administration.

The pharmacy department is seeking 200-250 volunteers for the exercise. Those interested in participating may call (916) 734-3307 or show up at the University Surgery Center auditorium between 1 and 3:30 p.m. on May 23.

The exercise will simulate mass dispensing in an emergency. In an actual emergency, some important points to keep in mind are as follows:

• The mass dispensing location may be different, based on the needs of the hospital.

• Some staff may be deemed to have a greater need than others for the medication, based on their level of exposure to the infectious agent.

• Medication supplies will be replenished by local, state and federal supplies, depending on the duration of the emergency.