Kent State University’s College of Nursing and College of Public Health are collaborating with the Portage County Health Department and the Emergency Management Agency (EMA) to stage a disaster simulation exercise. This year’s simulation will be a mock Anthrax release, with a triage and treatment site, and will take place Tuesday, April 14, and Thursday, April 16, from 8 a.m. to noon at Kent State’s Student Recreation and Wellness Center.

The mock exercise allows the Portage County Health Department and the EMA to test the effectiveness of Portage County’s disaster plan. The event also gives Kent State nursing students the opportunity to safely apply skills in a real-world disaster scenario. Public health students also will be able to see how an incident command system goes into effect during a disaster event.

“This disaster simulation exercise is an excellent opportunity for nursing students to practice their triage and screening skills in a real-life situation and in a community setting,” says Pamela Rafferty-Semon, lecturer in Kent State’s College of Nursing.

Portage County is enlisting Medical Reserve Corps volunteers to participate by acting as victims going through the triage and treatment stations during the simulation exercise.

For more information about the Portage County Health Department, visit www.co.portage.oh.us/healthdepartment.htm.

For more information about Kent State’s College of Nursing, visit www.kent.edu/nursing.

For more information about Kent State’s College of Public Health, visit, www.kent.edu/publichealth.