When an EF5 tornado hits Joplin, MO ...
“In the late afternoon of May 22, 2011 an EF5 tornado hit Joplin, MO. It was a catastrophic event that no one could have expected. The lessons learned during the evacuation of Mercy Hospital are endless but the ability to evacuate the hospital in a timely manner taught us that having the proper equipment deployed in the patient care areas throughout a hospital was essential. The deployed Med Sleds® were used in evacuating patients through debris filled hallways, down flights of stairs and out the building to safety. The Med Sled® worked exactly as designed, allowing healthcare providers to evacuate non ambulatory patients when time was critical.”
Charles Copple
Battalion Chief
City of Joplin Fire Department
Joplin, MO