EUROPEAN UNIONEUROPEAN UNION MAJOR PROJECT MAJOR PROJECT

ON DISASTER MEDICINEON DISASTER MEDICINE

DIMEX 2001DIMEX 2001

CPX CROSS BORDER EXERCISE

Portugal-Spain

MAJOR PROJECT ON DISASTER

MEDICINE

CONTINUE

CONCLUSIONS ON THE CPX CROSS BORDER EXERCISE PO-SP

DISASTER MEDICINEDISASTER MEDICINE

CONTACTS USEFUL WEB LINKS

EXERCISE DESCRIPTION PARTICIPATING ORGANISATIONS SCENARIO COMMAND AND CONTROL OPERATIONS’ CONCEPT OBJECTIVES PARTICIPATING ENTITIES’ CONCLUSIONS GENERAL CONCLUSIONS GLOSSARY

CONCLUSIONS ON THE CPX CROSS BORDER EXERCISE PO-SP

• THE PORTUGUESE NATIONAL SERVICE FOR CIVIL PROTECTION (SNPC), IN STRAIGHT COOPERATION WITH THE MAJORITY OF THE CIVIL PROTECTION AGENTS, NAMELY THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR MEDICAL EMERGENCIES, ORGANISED A CPX CROSS BORDER EXERCISE IN THE CONTEXT OF THE EUROPEAN UNION (EU) MAJOR PROJECT ON DISASTER MEDICINE, FOR WHICH A EU SUBVENTION WAS KINDLY GRANTED.

• THE CHOOSEN SCENARIO WAS A BUS ACCIDENT OVER THE INTERNATIONAL BRIDGE OF THE GUADIANA RIVER, INVOLVING SEVERAL VICTIMS, AMONG SPANISH AND PORTUGUESE TOURISTS. DURING THE EXERCISE A SITUATION ROOM WAS SET UP IN ORDER TO FOLLOW ALL ITS STAGES.

MAIN MENU

CONCLUSIONS ON THE CPX CROSS BORDER EXERCISE PO-SP

• SNPC CHOSE THE ALGARVE REGION AS THE SCENARIO BECAUSE THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST CROWDED TOURISTIC REGIONS OF PORTUGAL, SPECIALLY DURING SUMMER TIME. ALTHOUGH HEALTH RESOURCES HAVE BEEN IMPROVING, WHEN THE REGIONS’ POPULATION SOMETIMES TRIPLES EMERGENCY SITUATIONS TEND TO BECOME HARDER TO CONTROL.

• IN THESE CONDITIONS IT’S OF VITAL IMPORTANCE THAT ONE COUNTRY CAN GET OUTSIDE COOPERATION. HOWEVER, IN ORDER TO BE EFFICIENT, THIS COOPERATION MUST BE COORDINATED, AND THIS WAS OUR MAIN GOAL: TO PRACTISE AND TRAIN THE NECESSARY PROCEDURES IN THIS KIND OF CROSS BORDER COOPERATION.

MAIN MENU

CONCLUSIONS ON THE CPX CROSS BORDER EXERCISE PO-SP

THIS CPX EXERCISE WAS POSSIBLE DUE TO THEPARTICIPATION OF THE FOLLOWING PORTUGUESE AND

SPANISH ORGANISATIONS

• ALGARVE’S REGIONAL HEALTH BOARD (ARS) • VILA REAL DE SANTO ANTONIO’S FIRE BRIGADE• CASTRO MARIM’S CITY HALL • ANDALUZIA’S INTEGRATED OPERATIONAL COORDINATION CENTRE (CECOPI) • SOUTH MARITIME AREA COMMAND • PORTUGUESE RED CROSS (CVP)• SNPC’S DISTRICT DELEGATION OF FARO • SPANISH GENERAL DIRECTORATE FOR CIVIL PROTECTION • EPES-061 • NATIONAL REPUBLICAN GUARD (GNR)• HUELVA’S CIVILIAN GUARD • ENVIRONEMENT CONSERVATION INSTITUTE (ICN) • NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR MEDICAL EMERGENCIES (INEM) • FORENSIC POLICE (PJ) • PUBLIC SAFETY POLICE (PSP) • ALIENS AND BORDER SERVICE (SEF) • NATIONAL FIRE SERVICE (SNB) • SPANISH GOVERNMENT’S SUBDELEGATION IN HUELVA - CIVIL PROTECTION UNIT• ANDALUZIA’S GOVERNMENT DELEGATION IN HUELVA• HUELVA’S FIREFIGHTERS CONSORTIUM

MAIN MENU

CONCLUSIONS ON THE CPX CROSS BORDER EXERCISE PO-SP

EXERCISE DIAGRAM

• For this purpose, a virtual scenario was set up on the bridge over the Guadiana River:

– Frontal crash between two passenger buses - one with 40 and the other with 30 passengers;

– Three cars (3 p., 2 p. and 5p.) crash with one of the buses;

– One of these cars sets on fire that spreads to the bus;

– As a result of the accident we have several victims, among them injured and dead.

MAIN MENU

CONCLUSIONS ON THE CPX CROSS BORDER EXERCISE PO-SP

The exercise’s management was assumed by Faro’s civil protection delegate;

Faro’s civil protection delegate also assumed the exercise’s coordination,

with INEM and SNPC’s support;

SNPC’s Department for International Relations and Cooperation (NRIC) was

responsible for all the necessary international contacts;

The Civil Protection Situation Centre (CSPC) followed the exercise’s evolution.

MAIN MENU

CONCLUSIONS ON THE CPX CROSS BORDER EXERCISE PO-SP

After the alert, and considering the emergency, at 211015NOV01 Faro’s Civil Governor activated both the

District Centre for Civil Protection Emergency Operations (CDOEPC) and the District’s Emergency Plan;

Representatives from all participating organisations (players) assembled together at the Faro’s Civil

Protection District Delegation (DDPC);

The group controlling the Exercise injected all incidents as well as it’s evolution;

Players had to give written answers on how they solved the incidents. These answers included: time taken

to complete the operation, means involved and communications .

MAIN MENU

CONCLUSIONS ON THE CPX CROSS BORDER EXERCISE PO-SP

O B J E C T I V E SO B J E C T I V E S

• TRAINING PROCEDURES CONCERNING VICTIMS ASSISTANCE IN A DISASTER SITUATION;

• INVENTORYING LEGAL PROBLEMS CONCERNING CROSS-BORDER COOPERATION;

• INVENTORYING TECHNICAL PROBLEMS CONCERNING CROSS-BORDER COOPERATION (TECHNICAL RESOURCES, HUMAN RESOURCES, COMMAND AND CONTROL, COMMUNICATIONS);

• ESTABLISHING A COOPERATION PROTOCOL IN ORDER TO ORGANISE REGULAR SIMULATIONS IN THE FOLLOWING YEARS.

MAIN MENU

PARTICIPATING ENTITIES’ CONCLUSIONS PARTICIPATING ENTITIES’ CONCLUSIONS

ALGARVE’S REGIONAL HEALTH BOARD (ARS)

ANDALUZIA’S INTEGRATED OPERATIONAL COORDINATION CENTRE (CECOPI)

SNPC’S DISTRICT DELEGATION OF FARO (DDPC FARO)

SPANISH GENERAL-DIRECTORATE FOR CIVIL PROTECTION (DGPC)

NATIONAL REPUBLICAN GUARD (GNR)

PORTUGUESE NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR MEDICAL EMERGENCIES / FARO’S

URGENT VICTIMS ORIENTATION CENTRE (CODU)

FORENSIC POLICE (PJ)

PORTUGUESE NATIONAL FIRE SERVICE (SNB)

MAIN MENU

CONCLUSIONS ON THE CPX CROSS BORDER EXERCISE PO-SP

PARTICIPATING ENTITIES’ CONCLUSIONSPARTICIPATING ENTITIES’ CONCLUSIONSPortuguese Regional Health Board (ARS) / Algarve

Return to Entities List

Portuguese Regional Health Boards aren’t specially vocated to deal with emergency situations. They act more as a coordination and support structure;

However, DIMEX 2001 was an extraordinary opportunity to:

Deepen the acquaintance in what concerns the people and the organisations who share responsibilities in the field of disaster management;

Define, in a more precise way, the most correct attitude when dealing with such scenarios, specifically on what concerns: quick responses and rapid decisions, coordination capacities and knowledge of the rules and of the hierarchic chain that should be respected.

MAIN MENU

CONCLUSIONS ON THE CPX CROSS BORDER EXERCISE PO-SP

CECOPI’s activation should always be authorised by the Spanish State authorities;

The answers to some of the questions posed by this Centre (i.e: in what concerned the number of victims) came in too late;

Some of the calls from CECOPI to Faro’s CDOEPC were never answered;

Thus, it’s of vital importance to establish a direct contact, preferably through radio, between Faro and Huelva, to help support, in a more efficient way, the communications’ flow that always results from such situations;

MAIN MENU

CONCLUSIONS ON THE CPX CROSS BORDER EXERCISE PO-SP

PARTICIPATING ENTITIES’ CONCLUSIONSPARTICIPATING ENTITIES’ CONCLUSIONSAndaluzia’s Integrated Operational Coordination Centre (CECOPI)

Return to Entities List

A great attention should be put on the psychological and social support issue, not only in what concerns victims’ assistance, but also baring in mind the relatives and friends that may assemble on the premises;

It’s also of great importance, in situations of cross border emergencies, to establish, among the countries involved, a common mechanism which may enable all authorities to deal efficiently with the media and, at the same time, help avoid the release of contradictory pieces of information.

MAIN MENU

CONCLUSIONS ON THE CPX CROSS BORDER EXERCISE PO-SP

Return to Entities List

PARTICIPATING ENTITIES’ CONCLUSIONSPARTICIPATING ENTITIES’ CONCLUSIONSAndaluzia’s Integrated Operational Coordination Centre (CECOPI)

It was once again, proven the importance of stimulating the interpersonal relationships between those elements, from each side of the border, who share responsibilities in the field of disaster medicine. This fact not only enables a more rapid and efficient response to the emergency, but contributes to improve victims assistance;

In what concerns, specifically, disaster/emergency management, it would be very important to have a decentralisation of powers. Portuguese and Spanish local/regional authorities shouldn’t have to wait for the state authorisation in order to launch all the necessary procedures to deal with the emergency;

MAIN MENU

CONCLUSIONS ON THE CPX CROSS BORDER EXERCISE PO-SP

PARTICIPATING ENTITIES’ CONCLUSIONSPARTICIPATING ENTITIES’ CONCLUSIONSSNPC’s District Delegation of Faro / Algarve

Return to Entities List

Communication links between Huelva and Faro should be reinforced by a radio connection. With that extra link, we could guarantee a permanent contact between both authorities;

Such initiatives, like DIMEX 2001, should be extended to the rest of the Portuguese/Spanish border;

One should also encourage the sharing of knowledge in terms of common hazards.

MAIN MENU

CONCLUSIONS ON THE CPX CROSS BORDER EXERCISE PO-SP

Return to Entities List

PARTICIPATING ENTITIES’ CONCLUSIONSPARTICIPATING ENTITIES’ CONCLUSIONSSNPC’s District Delegation of Faro / Algarve

The Spanish intervention in situations of cross-border emergencies is carried out in strict observation for the existing Portuguese/Spanish Cooperation Protocol in the field of Civil Protection and according to the Spanish own civil protection structure;

Initiatives like DIMEX 2001 should be extended to the rest of the Portuguese/Spanish border, preferably through live exercises, which would enable both authorities to reach more consistent conclusions.

MAIN MENU

CONCLUSIONS ON THE CPX CROSS BORDER EXERCISE PO-SP

PARTICIPATING ENTITIES’ CONCLUSIONSPARTICIPATING ENTITIES’ CONCLUSIONSSpanish General Directorate for Civil Protection/National School

Return to Entities List

DIMEX 2001 revealed itself as a very important initiative for the Portuguese GNR, specially in what concerned the practising of certain emergency procedures among internal commands and the detection of some problems in the command, control and coordination chain regarding the means supposedly involved;

GNR stated that:

In these scenarios, such as the one used in DIMEX 2001, one should always try to take advantage of the existing direct links between the Portuguese and the Spanish specific authorities. That way, it would be easier to give a prompt answer in terms of disaster management. The obligation of passing through a civil protection coordination centre ends up delaying the whole process.

MAIN MENU

CONCLUSIONS ON THE CPX CROSS BORDER EXERCISE PO-SP

PARTICIPATING ENTITIES’ CONCLUSIONSPARTICIPATING ENTITIES’ CONCLUSIONSPortuguese National Republican Guard (GNR) / Faro’s Department

Return to Entities List

MAIN MENU

CONCLUSIONS ON THE CPX CROSS BORDER EXERCISE PO-SP

PARTICIPATING ENTITIES’ CONCLUSIONSPARTICIPATING ENTITIES’ CONCLUSIONSPortuguese National Institute for Medical Emergencies (INEM) Faro’s Urgent Victims’ Orientation Centre (CODU)

Return to Entities List

Faro’s CODU considers that DIMEX 2001 was an excellent initiative which had a positive result, except for some aspects concerning communications, namely between Portugal and Spain;

Thus, Faro’s CODU proposes the following:

It’s extremely important to carry out a harmonisation of procedures; Being fundamental to have a coordination body on the accident premises, it’s indispensable to constitute a Medical Command

Post (PCM) Once the local CODU involved runs out of means and resources, the Lisbon CODU should be transformed into a National

CODU It’s also extremely important to improve the cross-border communications’ network.

MAIN MENU

CONCLUSIONS ON THE CPX CROSS BORDER EXERCISE PO-SP

PARTICIPATING ENTITIES’ CONCLUSIONSPARTICIPATING ENTITIES’ CONCLUSIONSForensic Police / Faro’s Department

Return to Entities List

Faro’s Forensic Police stated their good level of preparedness in terms of dealing with this kind of scenarios, whether internally or in connection with the Spanish forensic authorities.

The Portuguese SNB, that also took profit of this initiative in order to practise some important internal procedures in the field of disaster medicine, more specifically in terms of Command and Control, stated the following:

In these kind of situations, all the means involved, specially those who are usually located far from the accident spot, must be mobilised as soon as possible;

In a real situation, the information exchange would have its main origin on the premises of the accident. Thus, this could probably create an overflow in the communications’ network, whether in the private or public sector. One should think about alternatives for this problem;

MAIN MENU

CONCLUSIONS ON THE CPX CROSS BORDER EXERCISE PO-SP

PARTICIPATING ENTITIES’ CONCLUSIONSPARTICIPATING ENTITIES’ CONCLUSIONSPortuguese National Fire Service (SNB)

Return to Entities List

More exercises should be carried out, specifically involving fire-fighting forces and medical personnel and, when possible, using real means;

Establishing a Portuguese Civil Protection School would be a very important step in order to improve coordination among every organisation that has a share of responsibility in this field .

MAIN MENU

CONCLUSIONS ON THE CPX CROSS BORDER EXERCISE PO-SP

Return to Entities List

PARTICIPATING ENTITIES’ CONCLUSIONSPARTICIPATING ENTITIES’ CONCLUSIONSPortuguese National Fire Service (SNB)

Considering the exercise’s initial objectives, the way it was

carried out, the several partial conclusions already stated and,

finally, the debate that took place during the Lisbon Workshop

on December 7, it’s time to present the most relevant general

conclusions which we hope will contribute significantly to

improve the Portuguese-Spanish cross border cooperation in

the field of disaster medicine.

MAIN MENU

CONCLUSIONS ON THE CPX CROSS BORDER EXERCISE PO-SP

It would be extremely important to prepare the introduction of some important changes

to the Additional Protocol to the Portuguese-Spanish Treaty on Civil Protection, in order

to pave the way and facilitate the beginning of the assistance activities to be carried out

by the local/regional authorities, in case of emergency. These changes, to be determined

by common agreement between Portugal and Spain – without prejudice of the legally

consecrated competence of both national services for civil protection (SNPC and DGPC),

namely in what concerns authorising the intervention and accompanying the situation’s

development – should contemplate, among other aspects, the concrete definition of the

cross-border areas involved and also the definition of the communication procedures to

be adopted between both emergency coordination centres, eventually involved in the

emergency;

MAIN MENU

CONCLUSIONS ON THE CPX CROSS BORDER EXERCISE PO-SP

So that medical assistance can be properly carried out in a disaster situation, it’s very

important to have all the contacts between the several civil protection agents extremely

well explored. This can only be achievable through: a regular activation of both

Portuguese and Spanish emergency operations’ centres, the existence of well articulated

emergency plans, good and less bureaucratic institutional relations and excellent

personal relations.

MAIN MENU

CONCLUSIONS ON THE CPX CROSS BORDER EXERCISE PO-SP

It’s urgent to improve the radio connections between Huelva and Faro, as well as

through the entire frontier line;

Still in the communications’ field , it’s also very important to improve the connections

among the existent network of ambulances;

This kind of initiatives should be extended, on a regular basis, to all adjacent Portuguese

and Spanish regions and, if possible, through LIVEX exercises, so that we can achieve

more consistent/real conclusions;

MAIN MENU

CONCLUSIONS ON THE CPX CROSS BORDER EXERCISE PO-SP

It’s fundamental to prepare an efficient mechanism in terms of psychological support;

The Regional Health Boards should guarantee a periodic testing of the hospitals’

Emergency Plans. On the other hand, these should always contemplate the activation of

a Public Support and Advise Cabinet in case of emergency;

We also have to point out the importance of both security forces having always foreseen

alternative routes, which can be used in case of emergency;

MAIN MENU

CONCLUSIONS ON THE CPX CROSS BORDER EXERCISE PO-SP

It was suggested the implementation of a Portuguese-Spanish Operational Manual, similar to

the one of the European Union, but more detailed in terms of medical aspects and capacities,

including, for instance, existing ambulances and helicopters on both sides of the border;

One should also seriously think about creating a data base on common and non-common risks

along the border, such as, transportation of hazardous materials, forest fires, floods, etc;

Finally, the importance of releasing agreed press reports was stressed, this is, a true effort

should be put on avoiding the launching of contradictory pieces of information to the media;

MAIN MENU

CONCLUSIONS ON THE CPX CROSS BORDER EXERCISE PO-SP

HOMEPAGE MAIN MENU

CONCLUSIONS ON THE CPX CROSS BORDER EXERCISE PO-SP

ARS Regional Health Board

CDOEPC District Emergency Civil Protection Operations Centre

CECOPI Andaluzia's Integrated Operational Coordination CentreCODU Urgent Victims Orientation CentreCSPS Portuguese Civil Protection Situation CentreCVP Portuguese Red CrossDDPC Civil Protection District DelegationDGPC Spanish General-Directorate for Civil ProtectionEU European UnionINEM Portuguese National Institute for Medical EmergenciesNRIC Department for International Relations and CooperationPCM Medical Command PostSNB Portuguese National Fire ServiceSNPC Portuguese National Service for Civil Protection

Portuguese National Service for Civil ProtectionAv. do Forte em Carnaxide2799-512 CarnaxidePORTUGAL

TEL: +351.21.424 72 10FAX: +351.21.424 71 80

Email: snpcpor@SNPC.pt

Portuguese National Institute for Medical EmergenciesAv. Almirante Barroso2799-512 LisboaPORTUGAL

TEL: +351.21.350 81 00 FAX: +351.21.350 81 80

Email: inem@inem.min-saude.pt

MAIN MENU

CONCLUSIONS ON THE CPX CROSS BORDER EXERCISE PO-SP

CONCLUSIONS ON THE CPX CROSS BORDER EXERCISE PO-SP

USEFUL WEB LINKS

MAIN MENU

• ALGARVE’S REGIONAL BOARD FOR HEALTH (ARS)• CASTRO MARIM’S CITY HALL (CMCM)• ANDALUZIA’S INTEGRATED OPERATIONAL COORDINATION CENTRE (CECOPI)• HUELVA’S FIRE BRIGADE• PORTUGUESE NAVY / SOUTH MARITIME ZONE COMMAND• PORTUGUESE RED CROSS (CVP)• SNPC’S DISTRICT DELEGATION OF FARO - FARO (DDPC FARO)• SPANISH GENERAL-DIRECTORATE FOR CIVIL PROTECTION (DGPC)• EPES-061• PORTUGUESE NATIONAL REPUBLICAN GUARD (GNR)• HUELVA’S CIVILIAN GUARD• PORTUGUESE ENVIRONEMENT CONSERVATION INSTITUTE (ICN)• PORTUGUESE NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR MEDICAL EMERGENCIES (INEM)• PORTUGUESE FORENSIC POLICE (PJ)• PORTUGUESE PUBLIC SAFETY POLICE (PSP)• PORTUGUESE ALIENS AND BORDERS SERVICE (SEF)• PORTUGUESE NATIONAL FIRE SERVICE (SNB)

BACK TO SCENARIO

CONCLUSIONS ON THE CPX CROSS BORDER EXERCISE PO-SP

SPAIN

PORTUGAL

SITE OFTHE INCIDENT

INTERNATIONAL BRIDGE OVER THE GUADIANA RIVER

MAIN MENU