Turtle Talk

State and tribal cooperation in Michigan at its best….

From TV (video):

WATERSMEET — “We need to be aware of what’s going on.  I don’t know, it seems like a lot of people with upper respiratory stuff happening here.”

As Dr. Gary Pusateri addressed his staff at the Lac Vieux Desert Health Clinic Wednesday, his words implied trouble for the small town.  From the waiting room came the sounds of dry coughing and the moans of patients in pain.  It would have been an alarming situation for any small clinic–especially if it were real.

Fortunately, none of the people in the clinic were actually sick.  Personnel and residents participated in a mock disaster drill to see how officials would react in the instance of a pandemic flu outbreak.  Faxes were sent to Pusateri, telling him how the disease was progressing and forcing him to act accordingly to treat patients.

“They’re basically springing this on us,” said Pusateri.

The disaster drill is part of a government grant to prepare for emergency situations and required the cooperation of emergency management personnel, hospital staff, county board members, and other officials and volunteers.  An Emergency Operations Center was set up at the Lac Vieux Desert police station, which acted like a base of command for organizing assistance and coordinating the next steps.

“We’re able to find out what’s going on regionwide,” said James Loeper, Emergency Management Coordinator for Gogebic County.  “What’s going on in Region 8, which is the whole U.P.”

It didn’t take long for the small clinic to become overwhelmed by the volume of patients, which forced staff to think on the fly.  Triage was set up in a tent outside and security guards were posted on the road and at the clinic itself to prevent further contamination.  Anyone entering the facility had to be approved and were handed surgical masks and hand sanitizer to minimize “exposure”.

Students and other residents acted as patients, displaying symptoms that medical staff had to diagnose and treat.  And, just as with an actual pandemic, there were deaths, which forced them to erect a temporary morgue facility.

“I think we have some potential Academy Award winners here,” Pusateri said.  “It’s just been a good experience for everybody.”

It’s also a learning experience for the community.  Observers will sit down with officials and go over responses and reactions to find areas of weakness and things they could improve upon–in case they ever have to deal with the real thing.