Flu drill at local HS keeps RI prepared

WARWICK, R.I. (WPRI) - If you noticed a lot of police, fire, and rescue personnel around Toll Gate High School, it was all part of a drill aimed keeping us safe, in case a serious flu hits the Ocean State.

Here's the scenario, Rhode Island is hit hard by the flu, and Kent Hospital needs another site to treat patients. That site, known as an alternate care site, or ACS is Toll Gate High School.

The purpose of an ACS is to have a location separate from the hospital where patients who are not severely ill or injured can be treated, leaving Kent Hospital and its staff available for those who are in serious need of care.

Volunteers helped fill the role of patients. Officials said the drill will help make sure that the state and emergency responders are ready, when the next big flu hits the Ocean State.

The drill was coordinated between the Department of Health , the City of Warwick, and the Warwick School Department.