COVID-19 mock drill held at SKIMS

SRINAGAR, DEC 27 –     For COVID-19 Management Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences  conducted a mock drill today  to test all the resources in presence of Prof Parvaiz A Koul Director SKIMS & EOSG and Prof Farooq A Jan Medical Superintendent, SKIMS.  The drill was mainly aimed to have better preparedness with regard to required resources for COVID-19 management and to address deficiencies in advance.

Medical Superintendent SKIMS informed that four (4) mock patients were arranged for the drill and the Disaster ward with 21 beds equipped with all facilities was used for the drill. Consultants and Resident staff from General Medicine, Critical Care Medicine, Emergency Medicine, Hospital Administration  and Nursing / Paramedic staff were present including Prof Sanaullah Shah (HOD General Medicine), Prof Aijaz Koul  ( Infectious Disease), Dr Abdul Wahid Bhat( Addl Prof Emergency Med), Dr Abdul Waheed Mir (Addl Prof Critical Care) and Dr. Shahnawaz Hamid ( Administrative I/C Emergency)

While giving the details he said that the mock drill was conducted in presence of Director SKIMS and all the arrangements were made in advance. Residents from the Department of Hospital Administration coordinated the drill. The drill was conducted right from the admission of the patient to further management and Director SKIMS & EOSG himself deliberated all case scenario’s with residents of General medicine & critical care. Besides, all the resources including manpower, equipment’s such as Ventilators, Monitors, High Flow Devices, and Infusion Pumps were put to test. Availability of drugs like; I. V. Fluids, Antibiotics, Steroids, Antiviral, Electrolytes, Life-saving drugs were also put to test.

During the mock exercise, Senior Residents of Anesthesia/ Critical Care Medicine resuscitated critical patients and ordered for all the necessary logistics. Availability was found up to the mark. All the Oxygen Ports were used simultaneously and there was no drop in Oxygen pressure.

The functioning of UPS backup was also tested. However, for more effective and smooth functioning availability of Portable X-Ray Machine and USG Machine needs to be addressed on priority. Other than this more ABG machines & High Flow oxygen devices need to be arranged. Also, Syringe Infusion Pumps need to be arranged and for NIV there is a need of some more stocks of NIV masks of different sizes. Disposable ventilator tubing’s and HFNC accessories also need to be kept available in bulk stock.

Director SKIMS, Medical Superintendent & Administrative Incharge Emergency also visited all PSA oxygen plants to observe their functional status. They were accompanied by all officials of Mechanical Engineering. The oxygen plants were functioning up to the mark and purity status of all plants was around 95%.