Summary: Exercise Kingfisher, conducted in Singapore’s Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) on September 21, 2024, simulated a hospital-wide response to a mass casualty event involving hazardous materials (HAZMAT) and radiation threats. The exercise aimed to validate the Emergency Department’s (ED) Civil Emergency Plan and assess operational readiness. A multi-disciplinary team of physicians, nurses, and operations staff participated, ensuring a cohesive response. Disaster education was integral to the success of Exercise Kingfisher. Over 1,400 hospital staff underwent comprehensive training, including the use of HAZMAT personal protective equipment (PPE), decontamination procedures, field medical team training, and critical care response. Regular email reminders and WhatsApp group updates kept staff informed about evolving workflows, ensuring real-time communication and readiness. Evidence based practices, including decontamination wash timings and care for the pediatric casualty, were integrated. To improve overall situational awareness and provide real-time casualty numbers, we leveraged technology. Virtual reality (VR) was employed for training decontamination staff, which optimized the training of a large number of staff within a short period. Technology integration improved patient tracking, resource allocation, and inter departmental coordination. Exercise Kingfisher validated the effectiveness of staff training and protocol updates. The hospital managed 204 casualties in four hours, demonstrating a high level of operational readiness. VR technology enabled more staff to be trained, and real-time communication tools improved coordination. The multi-disciplinary approach expedited triage and treatment, reducing response times and increasing patient management efficiency. Exercise Kingfisher has highlighted the importance of disaster education and protocol revision in preparations for a mass casualty incident. By integrating updated evidence, enhancing staff training, and employing a multi disciplinary approach, TTSH Emergency Department demonstrated a readiness to manage HAZMAT and radiological threats. Future exercises will continue to build on these successes, focusing on refining educational programs and strengthening interdepartmental collaboration.
Lye et al. (Sun,) studied this question.