POTSDAM -- Canton-Potsdam Hospital and Gouverneur Hospital’s clinical and administrative staff will participate in an emergency preparedness drill exercise March 7.

The exercise is designed to test and improve the community’s overall preparedness for an emergency event. The fictional exercise simulates an outbreak response to an exposure to the Avian Flu, according to hospital officials.

Emergency responders will treat volunteers who are pretending to be victims. The incident is not real; however the response activities during exercise will be practiced in a manner that is as realistic as possible. Participants include staff of both hospitals, St. Lawrence Public Health, Southwest Tech volunteer students, Gouverneur Rescue Squad, and other area squads.

The exercise, occurring statewide, will take place on the main campuses of both hospitals simultaneous with similar exercises on hospital campuses around New York State. The exercise will last for approximately three hours and has been carefully planned to take place without interruption to patient and visitor access to the hospitals or to patient care.

Community information about responses to possible emergencies may visit the New York State Department of Health’s website for families and individuals athttps://www.health.ny.gov/environmental/emergency/families_individuals_caregivers/index.htm.