Mock disasters. Emergency response exercises. “Pretend” patients, complete with fake wounds. Triage medical treatment. This and much more will be part of the NC Division of Public Health’s Office of Public Preparedness and Response (PHP&R) limited emergency exercises of state and local preparedness capabilities beginning Tuesday, February 15. The entire exercise, entitled “Heartbreaker,” will take place over several days at Gaston College’s Regional Emergency Services Training Center (RESTC). Although the kickoff and informational sessions began today, February 14, inside the Center, field exercises and emergency response drills actually begin Tuesday, February 15, and will be held outside the Center on the grounds of the College’s Dallas Campus. Heartbreaker will include four types of health threats and calls for the activation of the state’s seven Public Health Regional Surveillance Teams (PHRSTs). Full Story