Chiriquí Hospital Conducts Fire Drill to Test Emergency Response

The Rafael Hernández Regional Hospital in David, Chiriquí, recently held a comprehensive fire drill to evaluate its emergency response capacity. The exercise involved patients, medical personnel, administrative staff, and security teams, aiming to assess their preparedness for a potential fire emergency.

This year's drill marked a departure from previous simulations, which primarily focused on seismic events. Dr. William Corella of the hospital explained that the shift to a fire drill was intended to provide a different focus and enhance understanding among staff and patients regarding communication and safety procedures during such incidents.

Fire Chief José Luis Bandini reported that the response time during the drill was approximately five to six minutes, which is considered within optimal ranges. However, he noted ongoing efforts to further improve access routes to the hospital area. Authorities indicated that these exercises are crucial for identifying strengths and areas for improvement, with subsequent evaluations generating recommendations to refine emergency protocols.

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Always they have been about earthquakes, and this year we decided to do a fire drill, to give a different tone to the drills and so that the hospital staff and patients themselves see how communication should be between us and the security elements.