Emergency Alert in Leigh!

Crisis in Leigh – a tanker has crashed and there has been a serious chemical

leak.  Residents in the area have been evacuated and the council has set up a

rest centre for evacuees in the hall of Bedford High School.

Don’t worry – it’s only a simulation called ‘Exercise Wristband’.  The whole

scenario has been staged by council civil contingencies officers and partners,

including the PCT, Red Cross and Wigan & Leigh College.  The objective was

to see how public services and residents could cope with and respond to a

serious incident.

Tina Smith, the council’s civil contingencies manager, says: “Fortunately,

emergencies are rare and we’re not wishing anything like this scenario on

anyone.  But it’s important that we are ready and can cope should the worst

happen.”

College students played the evacuees with characters and roles to act out – a

diabetic, someone with a baby, someone who was deaf and someone with a missing

family member, and they had to come into the centre and be processed and given

any necessary first aid, support or advice.  The officers in the rest centre

didn’t know the full script and had to deal with all manner of issues as they

developed during the day.

“The event was a great success,” adds Tina.  “Everyone played their parts

brilliantly and we have learnt a lot from it.  Special thanks to Bedford High

School for hosting the exercise and being our rest centre – and to the Red Cross

and PCT for their expert support.”

The aim of Exercise Wristband was to test and validate the council’s rest

centre procedures and documentation to ensure they are accurate, useful and

suitable for purpose.  The exercise also gave participants the experience of

setting up and working in a rest centre.  Evacuees were played by second year

Level 3 National Diploma in Public Services students from Wigan and Leigh

College, and catering was provided by the council’s Metrofresh team.

Cllr Fred Walker, the council’s civil contingencies champion, says: “I’d like

to thank everyone for their diligence and support for this exercise.  We all

hope that these scenarios never happen, but should they do, we are

prepared.”

Daniel Meekin, Bedford’s business and finance manager, adds: “We’ve got

record exam results and now we have a record of emergency planning success! 

Staff and students at Bedford High are committed to all aspects of safeguarding

and we’re delighted to be working with Wigan Council and partner agencies to

host Exercise Wristband.”

• View

  advice about civil contingencies.  As well as public advice on flooding, you

  can view the council’s full emergency plan or contact the team for advice for

  businesses.