18/05/2007

Largest emergency exercise to take place

One of the largest emergency exercises ever carried out in Northern Ireland will take place this weekend at Belfast International Airport.

The multi-agency ‘Exercise Exodus’, which has been planned for the last 18 months will take place on Sunday 20 May.

Over 1,200 participants at locations across Northern Ireland will be involved in the exercise.

As well as George Best Belfast City Airport, The City of Derry Airport and Belfast International there will be activity at five hospitals, Antrim Area, The Mater, Belfast City, The Royal Victoria and the Royal Victoria Hospital for Sick Children throughout the day.

The exercise, which is being coordinated by the Police Service of Northern Ireland, has been designed to test the response of the emergency and health services to a major incident. A number of new systems and procedures will also be tested for the first time.

Also playing a full part will be Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service, Northern Ireland Ambulance Service, Eastern Health and Social Services Board, Northern Health and Social Care Trust, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust and bmi. Students from the University of Ulster will also be taking part as volunteer role players on the day.

At all of the locations throughout the course of Sunday members of the public will witness increased activity related to the exercise. This will include the airport terminals and in particular the Accident and Emergency departments of the hospitals involved which will be receiving 'patients' by ambulance.

Normal service levels will not be affected and hospital patients and air travellers can expect business as usual.

(JM/KMcA)

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