FIRE, SECURITY AGENTS AND MEDICS TEST COMBAT READINESS (Page 29)

Story: George Ernest Asare, Kumasi

Medical officers, the security apparatus, Fire Service personnel and other stakeholders in crowd management and control in the Kumasi metropolis have staged a mock exercise at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium to test their combat readiness on disaster management and control, as the Ghana 2008 draws nearer.
The exercise, which started early on Monday, climaxes a week’s training programme to sharpen the skills of the medical officers, police, Fire Service persons and the Ambulance Team, who will be directly involved in any mishap that occurs at the stadium before, during or after the tournament.
About 117 medical officers, made up of doctors, nurses, pharmacists, anaesthetists and physiotherapists were involved in the exercise.
They were drawn from the KATH, the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) Hospital, the Manhyia and Suntreso hospitals.
About 80 trainees nurse were also used as sports fans who had been injured from crowd violence and police action, with 20 of them sustaining very serious injuries and, therefore, needing urgent medical attention to save their lives.
The injuries ranged from burns, fractures, cuts at the various parts of their bodies and bleeding profusely
Briefing the media about the significance of the exercise, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), Dr Anthony Nsiah-Asare, said during tournaments of such magnitude, there was the need to prepare adequately for any eventuality.
“It is also necessary to address any challenge effectively and efficiently, hence the exercise to test the combat readiness of the team prior to the tournament, “ Dr Nsiah-Asare said.
He recalled the May 9, 2001 disaster at the Ohene Djan Sports Stadium in Accra, where crowd violence and police response led to the death of 126 sports fans, and stressed the need for all stakeholders to prepare adequately on crowd management to prevent future occurrences.
Dr Nsiah-Asare said the simulation exercise involved the management of injuries, especially the provision of first aid to sports fans before they were evacuated to the hospitals.
He said they also timed the period first aid was provided to the affected fans and their evacuation to the hospital to note how efficient or otherwise they were.
Dr Nsiah-Asare said in the course of the tournament a number of ambulances would be ready to transport injured players and sports fans to the hospital.
“ As many as five ambulances will not only be ready at any time but the drivers are also conversant with the route to take while the police will also help to control traffic in order that we will be able to get patients to hospital on time for them to get the best of treatment”, he stressed.
He said others would also be positioned at vantage points to support the team in case of any emergency.