CHOMP gets hands-on training to prepare for Ebola

The Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula trained about1,000 employeeson dealingwith potentialEbola-cases Thursday morning.

“We wanted to be prepared. Being prepared isn’t sending out a memo,or watching a screen, it’s really doing,” said Dr. Steven Cabrales with CHOMP.

What staff is doing here, is practicing how to properly take on and off the many layers of protective gear used when handling patients possibly exposed to Ebola.

“No skin exposed, there’s a face shield, and there’s air that recirculates so that you don’t get so hot in the unit,” said Cabrales.

Also something new at the hospital, when walking up the stairs into the emergency department,patients might notice some new signs.

“We’ve added a couple of questions to patients when they are presented at the front desk. Have you recently traveled to or have been exposed to anyone who’s been to the affected countries?” said Cabrales.

But Cabrales said the new signs are just another added precaution. If someone has been exposed to Ebola and heading to Monterey County, the hospital would be alerted.

“If your a traveler who has come from one of the West African nations, then Monterey County Health Department will be notified, and we’ll be notified if there are potential patients exposed to Ebola,” said Cabrales.

So far there have been no Ebola cases in Monterey County, but if there is – CHOMP said its staffis prepared.