Healthcare team credits CDP training for successful B-17 crash response

A hospital in Hartford, Connecticut has publicly credited FEMA’s Center for Domestic Preparedness for ensuring it was prepared to respond Thursday to the crash of a vintage B-17 bomber at nearby Bradley International Airport.

The crash killed seven and injured nine crew members and passengers.

The injured were transported to Hartford Hospital, which had sent 31 of its leaders and healthcare specialists to the CDP’s Healthcare Leadership for Mass Casualty Events course in March.

Patrick Turek, Director of Emergency Management for Hartford Healthcare, Hartford Hospital’s parent organization, said the training the responders received at the CDP positioned the team to respond as it did to the disaster.

“The CDP training made us response ready for this event,” said Turek, noting that while the Hartford Hospital healthcare team “learned a great deal” during their weeklong stay (at the CDP), “it has catapulted our organization to think more deeply about responding to emergencies and disasters – truly doing it with excellence.”

Hartford Hospital’s President, Bimal Patel, added during a press conference following the crash that the hospital’s advances in emergency management are directly attributable to the training the group received at the CDP.

“The training the team received in Anniston, AL (at the CDP) is exercised weekly at Hartford Hospital” and keeps our providers prepared to respond, no matter the type of mass casualty event, he said.