EXERCISE FORM AND DEBRIEF REPORT EXTERNAL Site Exercised N/A Exercise Name Exercise Date 15 January 2013 Type of Exercise Location Tabletop/Discussion event Easdale Community Hall, Easdale Statutory (Please tick) YES NO Reason for exercise To test a Plan Other (please state) (please ) Details of Plan(s) No The exercise was initiated due to concerns re response to an emergency situation by the local community Aim of Exercise To work towards an agreement for the implementation of procedures for emergency response (medical evacuation) from the Island of Easdale. Multi-agency Objectives 1 To ensure everyone is aware of what arrangements we have in place This part - To be completed after the exercise Objective Comments Met Yes Everyone who attended is now more aware of what s in place 2 To ensure everyone is aware of what to expect from each other 3 To ensure that the response to any event is effective and efficient 4 To identify and discuss any issues raised on the day Yes Yes Yes There is now a greater awareness of what local residents and responding agencies should expect from each other. Several other resources were identified during the exercise, possible access to these should make the response possible in most circumstances There were many issues raised on the day all were discussed and most resolved.
Background There were some concerns from the Residents of Easdale re medical evacuation from the island. There had been several meetings in the past involving representatives/residents of Easdale and the Emergency Services, none of which seemed to completely resolve the situation. By inviting all parties to participate in an event facilitated by Civil Contingencies, it was hoped that we would be able to examine and positively look at a way forward by agreeing arrangements that would be acceptable to all. Brief Exercise Scenario The scenario looked at a fire in a property on Easdale, resulting in 3 casualties. One with minor burns and smoke inhalation; one with a suspected broken leg and one with a serious head injury from a fall. We looked at what the response would be from all agencies in the following situations. 1. In the middle of the afternoon in good weather conditions 2. In the middle of the afternoon in very bad weather conditions 3. In the middle of the night in good weather conditions 4. In the middle of the night in very bad weather conditions We also covered a fifth scenario looking at general access to the island of Easdale for disabled visitors or islanders being discharged from hospital with the possibility of poor mobility or being wheelchair bound. Parties / Agencies Participating The exercise was attend by - Strathclyde Police Strathclyde Police - Emergencies Planning Scottish Ambulance Service Scottish Ambulance Service - Air Ambulance Strathclyde Fire and Rescue Argyll and Bute (ferries) NHS Highland Oban Mountain Rescue RNLI Members of the Residents Association Members of Seil and Easdale Community Council Residents of Easdale Eilean Eisdeal List of Participants Argyll and Bute Council Carol Keeley (Facilitator) Iain McFadyen Martin Gorringe Vicki McKenzie William Fairbairn Position Argyll & Bute Council Civil Contingencies Manager Technician Ferries Marine Operations Manager Harbourmaster Ferry Operator
Elaine Robertson Duncan MacIntyre Easdale representatives Duncan Smallman Alex MacRae David Knox Tom Tinney John Gordon Seamus Anderson Henry Tarbatt Jenny Smith Other Agencies Brian Auld Jeremy Moore Joe Callan Kinloch Tweedlie David McCaughey Mark Benton Andy Moir Rob Dalziel George Hannah Gill Fairclough Billy Forteith John Hill Ross Lilley Local Councillor Local Councillor Eilean Eisdeal Eilean Eisdeal Resident Resident Seil & Easdale Community Council Seil & Easdale Community Council EIRPOA (Easdale Island Residents & Property Owners Association) EIRPOA Strathclyde Police Strathclyde Police Strathclyde Police - Emergencies Planning Strathclyde Police - Emergencies Planning Strathclyde Fire and Rescue Scottish Ambulance Service Scottish Ambulance Service Air Ambulance Scottish Ambulance Service Air Ambulance NHS Highland local GP NHS Highland local Nurse RNLI RNLI Oban Mountain Rescue Brief Exercise Report and Comments The exercise was well received by all participants. Most felt that they had a better idea of what to expect from each other in an emergency situation. Having all interested parties round the table at the same time seemed to be effective. All were invited to have their say, resulting in many issues being raised, discussed and most resolved, although longer term solutions will remain unresolved for now. Main Points Overall the exercise created meaningful discussion and was seen as a positive way forward An agreement reached that islanders would volunteer for 1 st responder training This would result in some additional equipment being provided on the island Refresher defib training will be offered to residents, as some who had been trained in the past have left the island The need to share information re other boat owners in the area that may be able to assist when the Council ferry is not suitable It has to be accepted that responding Ambulance crews will always be entitled to carry out a risk assessment as to whether it is safe for them to cross over to the island depending on the situation at the time. However, Mark Benton has spoken to crews in the area and has intimated that they will always aim to cross as long as they are not compromising their own safety. Co-ordination of any incident would be carried out by the Police
Confirmation from the Police that on receipt of a 999 call from anyone on Easdale supplying a postcode, will alert operator to the fact that the incident is on an island. If no postcode can be provided the caller will have to inform the operator that they are on an island. Also highlighted on the day were the ongoing concerns re access to the island for elderly, infirm and disabled as well as access for essential services. ACTIONS TO TAKE FORWARD Action Action Owner Timeline 1. Police already have other boat owner s agreement to assist where the Council ferry is not suitable others were unaware of this. Police to share this information with Fire and Ambulance 2. Use of additional boats not already considered to be Risk Assessed for use in the future 3. Fire to give all residents on Easdale home safety fire checks 4. Stretcher on the island requires replacing, doesn t need to be a new one just a better one. 5. Ambulance to carry out 1 st responder training for islanders Police Police/Fire & Rescue Jeremy from Police is working on an Asset Register which he will share with Fire, Ambulance and Civil Contingencies. Fire & Rescue Scottish Ambulance Service Update Apologies, this was recorded inaccurately, SAS are unable to provide a suitable replacement stretcher Residents to provide list of volunteers End March Scottish Ambulance Service to carry out training 6. Ambulance to carry out defib training Residents to provide list of volunteers End March 7. Offer from Ambulance to carry out another survey of the island re suitable helicopter landing site 8. Residents Association, Community Council and Eilean Eisdale Members to agree to meet on a regular basis Scottish Ambulance Service to carry out training Scottish Ambulance Service Question added post exercise by Jenny from Easdale does this include the Sea King? All Next meeting and future meetings
9. Preparation of the Community Resilience Plan All To be discussed at next meeting and taken forward On completion of all the above actions response in the meantime should be improved. LONGER TERM After the exercise when asked for views around the table, it was agreed by all emergency services representatives in attendance that the only long term solution for better access to Easdale would be either in the form of a causeway or linkspan. It should be noted that some residents might be unhappy with this solution. Post meeting note Dr George Hannah has checked with other remote and rural GP s in Scotland, Easdale Island does appear to be unique in having no safe facility for disabled access, or for disabled islanders leaving for non emergency reasons. Were evaluation forms completed and used to compile this report? Please YES NO Feedback from all participants directly after then event and post event comments were used to produce this report. IN SUMMARY At the end of the session, feedback from the various agencies / participants was noted below From Police Fire Ambulance Air Ambulance Oban MRT Martin Council NHS GP / Nurse RNLI Henry Residents Association Feedback No concerns arose No concerns arose Some concerns, but okay with current set-up and hopeful that things will improve when 1 st responder and defib training is carried out on the island. Content that they will be revisiting the island to assess for helicopter landing site. No concerns arose Martin wanted to express thanks to the Emergency Service for their participation and for the positive responses received from them at this event Main concern was the movement of disabled or immobile persons to and from the island. Problems with this may still occur much will depend on the circumstances at the time. Weather, time of day, vessel(s) available etc. As the waters are too shallow for their boat, they will respond to any incident but would be limited as to what they could assist with Thought that communications during the event were good, however recognised that good communications would have to continue beyond this event.
Duncan Eilean Eisdeal Seamus Community Council Cllr Elaine Robertson Cllr Duncan MacIntyre Found the day interesting and noted that the Community Resilience on Easdale is generally good and will be a good foundation to build on Emergency situations - if response improved then it would become routine. Good day but apparent that there is no definitive answer to the problems that Easdale faces other than long term costly solutions Improvements needed for Easdale to survive in the future, by way of a Linkspan or Causeway. Overall there were still some concerns, however if everyone makes an effort to build on what we achieved during this event then the situation will improve and continue to improve. Carol brought the day to a close by thanking those who had participated and hoped that the day had been helpful to all to be able to work together to prepare their Community Resilience Plan. Name Carol Keeley Designation Civil Contingencies Manager Date 10 April 2013 (updated 15 th April 2013)