A large-scale exercise held biennially by the Civil Aid Service (CAS) concluded successfully today (May 13). The two-day exercise was codenamed "Challenger".
In the test scenario, the CAS deployed members to Lei Yue Mun Village with the aim of appealing to residents to move to temporary shelters due to the approach of a super typhoon which posed threats to the safety of residents living in low-lying and coastal areas. The exercise sought to test and assess the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the CAS' command, deployment, communication, rescue skills, care for victims and logistical support.
The exercise also simulated members conducting emergency poultry culling in local farms during an outbreak of avian influenza, to assess members' efficiency and ability to follow prescribed procedures for putting on and taking off personal protective equipment.
Over 1 000 CAS officers as well as members from the operations, administration and support units participated in the exercise. Exercises including simulations of search and rescue in tropical cyclones, floods and mountains, tree clearance, casualty evacuation, evacuation of residents and management of temporary shelters took place at Lei Yue Mun, Tung Tsz and Tsing Lung Tau, while the poultry culling exercise took place at the CAS Headquarters.
By simulating different scenarios, the exercise effectively evaluates members' rescue skills and tests their preparedness for emergency operations. Members met the required standard in the exercise, showing that their training has been effective.
The CAS will review and analyse the exercise reports and refine its training programmes and operational procedures to further enhance the operational efficiency of members of all ranks.
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