The staff of Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton participated in a combined active shooter and mass casualty drill Nov. 13, 2015.

The exercise, which is one of two drills run each year, was implemented to test the command's emergency operations procedures and to determine readiness in the event of an actual emergency.

"The purpose of running this drill was to make sure that not only our security personnel, but the whole staff knows how to respond if there is an active shooter within the hospital," said J.T. Evans, the Emergency Management Working Group chairman at NHCP. "This is our first time running the drill in the new hospital. We have a whole new group of military and civilian staff members, the layout is new and the response plan is new so we're testing to make sure everything works."

The drill began with an active shooter injuring several sailors and then forcing his way into the command suite. After the shooter was detained by security, the environment transitioned into a mass casualty exercise drill that involved the participation of providers from the Dental Department, the emergency room and other clinics around the hospital.

Everyone played a part in making the drill successful. Whether it was continuing patient services, which were ongoing throughout the drill, passing word of what to do in a real-life situation, observing and recording, becoming an actual casualty or being a responder to events--the entire command was involved.

"This was my first time doing a drill like this. I think it will help us to be more prepared in case an actual situation happens and I thought it was a fun experience," said Seaman Eric Na, a hospital corpsman currently attached to the Occupational Health Department.

While there were portions of the drill that have room for improvement, Mr. Lee Kiolbasa, NHCP's emergency management officer, said that the exercise's objectives were achieved and that the EMWG will be working to respond to the feedback given about the drill.

"The drill went exceptionally well," said Kiolbasa. "We had good command participation and we were able to collect some great lessons learned to improve our emergency operations plan."

For more news from Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton, visit www.navy.mil/.