LMA—Two local hospitals are among the sites for this weekend’s “Urban Shield: Boston” emergency training exercise. Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Brigham and Women’s Hospital will host realistic simulations of hazardous materials decontaminations, treatment of victims and other activities that may look real to residents. There will be no actual danger to the public, according to the City of Boston.
The state and City of Boston training exercise will run from 8 a.m. on Sat., Nov. 3 to 8 a.m. on Sun., Nov 4. The goal is to train police, emergency response units and hospitals to handle multiple disasters or other events creating mass casualties. Some locations may have simulated gunfire and SWAT teams in action.
The Longwood Medical Area hospitals are among eight hospitals around the city that will be involved. Other locations include Boston Harbor, the University of Massachusetts Boston, the Bowdoin T Station, the former B2 police station in Roxbury and the former Circle Cinemas on the Boston/Brookline border.
The training is funded through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Urban Area Security Initiative.