VALLEY MANOR FULL EVACUATION DRILL
On Tuesday, October 1st at 10:30 am Valley Manor LTC home performed their triennial full evacuation drill under the observation of the Madawaska Valley Fire Chief, Corwin Quade. At the staff debrief after the event, he advised the staff that “You all did quite well! You all did a great job, so obviously you know what you’re doing.” Valley Manor’s CEO, Trisha DesLaurier also commended the staff on a job well done stating “A huge thank you to the entire team for your participation in the full evacuation exercise at Valley Manor today! It was completed in record time of 24:48 minutes. The last full evacuation drill was completed in 32 minutes. A job well done by all; including the residents!!”
Why conduct this drill?
Exercises or drills provide several important benefits to any organization that uses them to prepare for its emergency response. Some drills are conducted monthly, yearly and triennially as per the Ministry of Long-Term Care’s - Fixing Long-Term Car Act, 2021. Conducting this drill helps the home increase their overall preparedness in the event of a real evacuation. In particular, it:
• Provides the home a way to determine its readiness to respond to a crisis or disaster.
• Clarifies gaps or problems with existing policies and plans.
• Helps administration and staff understand their roles during a disaster.
• Serves as a training tool.
• Helps identify needs for other resources, and
• Serves as a tool for modifying and improving existing plans based on the lessons learned during the drill.
