Oct. 3, 2005, Findlay, Ohio – The University of Findlay, in association with Blanchard Valley Regional Health Center, will be conducting an emergency exercise simulating a release of a bio-toxin on Wednesday, Oct. 5, beginning at 2 p.m. at the hospital.

The exercise is part of the UF School for Environmental and Emergency Management’s live, interactive Webcast training scenario series.

During the exercise a simulated release of a bio-toxin will contaminate a group of victims. The bulk of the exercise will take place outside of Blanchard Valley Regional Health Center’s Emergency Department as the victims arrive for treatment. The exercise will focus on the coordinated response of emergency medical staff, police, firefighters and hazardous materials management professionals to emphasize pre-planning, mass decontamination, patient triage, incident command and mistakes that can be avoided in a real emergency situation. The Emergency Department will be accepting patients as usual during the exercise.

The exercise will be video recorded and streamed live via the Web. Participants watching the exercise online (from anywhere across the entire country) will be able to interact with the trainees by asking questions and helping decide what action should be taken throughout various stages of the scenario while the event is taking place.

More than 60 people from UF, Blanchard Valley Hospital, local and county police and fire departments will participate in the exercise.

The Webcast is geared toward emergency management professionals, first responders and first receivers in the public health community.

To view the Web cast, register at http://seem.findlay.edu/webcasts/. The Webcast also can be previewed at the same Web address.

Media are invited to attend the exercise. For more information, contact Rebecca Shell, public relations officer, at 419-434-4345.