Published July 10, 2025
Evacuating patients during an emergency is a very real threat, and recent evacuation drills using med sleds served as a reminder that L+M and Westerly hospitals are prepared for such a scenario.
Employees from both hospitals are drilled in the use of patient transport sleds. Employees across Yale New Haven Health have similar training.
“We’re doing this across the health system because it’s important to be prepared for the unexpected,” said Kage Harrington, emergency management specialist from the YNHHS Office of Emergency Preparedness. “The recent training sessions at both L+M and Westerly were very successful. Employees who participated were very engaged. They all seemed to realize that, while this is an unlikely scenario, the importance of knowing how to handle such a crisis could be crucial to the safety and well-being of our patients.”
The sleds, which are like plastic toboggans that wrap and strap around the sides of patients, are designed to lower patients down stairs smoothly and safely. Staff control the speed of the sled by using ropes and a carabiner that latches to the stairway railing, enabling and ensuring a steady and safe descent. The sleds can accommodate patients of all sizes.
“I found it very interesting,” said Lisa Chatowsky, clinical coordinator for Respiratory Care at L+M Hospital. “I hope we can have future training sessions so that everyone on our teams can be familiar with how these devices work. It’s better to be prepared.”
Harrington said training sessions will be ongoing, ensuring that enough employees are trained to safely evacuate all patients if required.
In Westerly, Terasa Antoch, RN, nurse manager, Medical Surgical Unit/Float Pool, said she thought the training was beneficial. “This evacuation drill equipped our team with the knowledge and skills necessary to ensure the safe, orderly and efficient transfer of patients out of the hospital."
