It's an emergency situation that will hopefully never happen.
Ontario hospital workers and emergency crews on Saturday responded to a mock crisis involving a fictitious explosion as a result of a chemical accident while simultaneously dealing with a respiratory outbreak.
The two-and-a-half hour simulation exercise was designed to test the abilities of medical first responders and health care workers during a major urban disaster that could possibly send hundreds of victims to hospital.
- Watch the simulation exercise here
Participants included those working at Toronto's Sunnybrook Hospital, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto East General Hospital, and Markham Stouffville Hospital. Health care workers from other institutions across Canada, the U.S., and Italy also participated.
The live exercise took place at Centennial College's Morningside Campus and involved 350 participants.
According to a news statement, students from a number of schools -- including George Brown College and Ryerson University -- donned make-up and role-played to create a "chillingly realistic simulation."
