Mobile medical field unit to stage training exercise

October 21, 2011

On October 25 and 26, Ontario's Emergency Medical Assistance Team (EMAT) will be onsite at Sunnybrook's Bayview campus for an exercise.

Sunnybrook and the Sunnybrook Centre for Pre-Hospital Medicine operate EMAT by providing specialized training to respond to crisis situations and clinical staff for the team. This crisis team uses a mobile medical field unit that can be deployed anywhere in Ontario with road access within 24 hours. The EMAT can set-up a 56-bed unit that provides a staging and triage base, and has the capability to treat 20 acute care patients and 36 intermediate care patients. The EMAT is the first of its kind in Canada.

EMAT will begin setting-up their tents and command centre on the flat green lawn outside H-Wing at approximately 8 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct 25.

On Wednesday, Oct 26 a mass casualty virtual exercise involving Sunnybrook, EMAT, SickKids, Toronto EMS, the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care's Emergency Management Branch (EMB) will take place in order to give these groups practice working together to enhance emergency preparedness.

Learn more about EMAT