A group of 21 senior WVU Tech nursing students participated in a Closed Point of Dispensing (POD) drill at the Capitol Complex in Charleston last week, gaining firsthand emergency preparedness experience.
The project, run by the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department and the Department of Health and Human Resources’ Center for Threat Preparedness, ran a live exercise simulating an Anthrax exposure event at the Capitol. The drill tested the campus’ Closed POD system, which dispenses medication in an effort to treat state employees and their families to keep the government running during a bioterrorism incident.
WVU Tech students played a variety of roles during the drill, where they served as both emergency workers and “victims” exposed to the biological agent.
“The drill was an excellent practical extension of what our students are currently learning in their community nursing course,” said Melanie Whelan, WVU Tech senior nursing lecturer. “Students were engaged in scenarios that highlighted emergency preparedness concepts and allowed them to connect with the community in a real-world emergency environment.”
Check out coverage from the Charleston Gazette to read more about the Closed POD project.