Lehigh Valley Health Network's department of Public Safety and Emergency Operations, in partnership with Lehigh County Special Operations, recently provided area first responders and community members, such as the Lehigh County Community Emergency Response Team and Medical Reserve Corps, a chance to tour and train with LVHN's emergency response equipment.

The health network deployed its mobile field hospital, as well as its mobile communications unit, the mass decontamination unit and a medevac helicopter and medevac ground unit to help familiarize citizen first responders with the mass casualty response assets available through the health network and Lehigh County.

Lehigh County Emergency Management Agency Special Operations teams demonstrated their unique rescue and hazmat response equipment.

The training took place 6 to 8 p.m. Sept. 4 at the health network's Mack Boulevard facility and was the first event in recognition of National Emergency Preparedness Month, which is held annually in September.

Sponsored by FEMA, National Preparedness Month aims to educate and empower Americans to prepare for and respond to all types of emergencies, including natural disasters and potential terrorist attacks.

"LVHN takes disaster preparation very seriously and we want the Lehigh Valley to know that we are prepared for most critical incidents," Mike Wargo, administrator, for LVHN's Department of Public Safety and Emergency Operations, said.

"We've partnered with first responders in and around the communities we serve because even when disasters happen, people still get sick and always need a hospital, no matter the situation. We must keep our health network open to serve our community."

LVHN's Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness was created to ensure continuity of health care operations during times of normal operations and when a critical incident strikes.

The network's public safety and emergency response department consists of the following divisions: emergency management and emergency preparedness, emergency communications, fire and life safety, medevac – air and ground critical care transport, security protective services and event medical services.

LVHN is a National Disaster Medical Services agreement hospital supporting the response to federal medical needs during declared national disasters.

LVHN DPS is a member of the PA – three state medical assistance team and the Northeast PA Counter-Terrorism Task Force: health, medical and EMS division.