War games: Playing with fire

War games: Playing with fire: "War games: Playing with fire
Adults get a taste of what it's like to be in a war zone. The catch -- if you want to call it that? They can go home at the end of the day.
Aline Mendelsohn
Sentinel Staff Writer

January 24, 2006

The battle has begun, and insurgents in headdresses swarm the field while American soldiers in camouflage run across the tops of trailers. An explosion rattles in the distance, and in the village, an Iraqi civilian crouches over an injured man and pleads, 'Breathe, my friend.'

This is not a war thousands of miles away. This is a game of war, set in the safety of an Orlando industrial field and tractor-trailer storage yard near Silver Star Road.

This particular game is called Airsoft, a military simulation employing guns that shoot plastic pellets. A pastime that appeals primarily to twenty- to thirtysomething men, Airsoft offers elements of war re-enactment, paintball and live-action role-playing.

On Saturday, 200 participants, some from out of state, came together for Operation Sandstorm, hosted by Airsoft groups Mindgame Productions and Demo Airsoft. Players took the roles of Americans and insurgents, while actors posed as civilians.

Ultimately, the Americans won, as they outnumbered the insurgents 3-1."

Hospitals receive $5 million for emergency preparedness

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Hospitals receive $5 million for emergency preparedness
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
Star-Ledger Staff
The state Health Department yesterday awarded $5 million in grants to New Jersey hospitals and other health care facilities in an effort to strengthen emergency response.
Eighty acute-care hospitals and 14 federally qualified health centers will use the money to enhance their ability to respond to chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive incidents.
'New Jersey's health care facilities must be prepared to both prevent and treat disease outbreaks as well as protect health care professionals who work at these facilities,' said state Health Commissioner Fred Jacobs.
The grants were made available through funding from the Federal Health Resource and Services Administration. Hospitals and federally qualified health centers were eligible to apply for the funding.
Facilities can use the money to purchase equipment to expand isolation, decontamination and communication capabilities and to increase pharmaceutical supplies and personal protection equipment. The grant also can be used for staff education and training to conduct preparedness drills and exercises.
In addition to the grants announced yesterday, the state also has dedicated funds during the last three years to New Jersey hospitals as follows:
$7.5 million for developing public health emergency regional coordination centers.
$2 million for personal protective equipment, decontamination and emergency preparedness.
$2 million for the strategic stockpile of medications, vaccines, antidotes and safety equipment for use during health emergencies.
$1.2 million to help hospitals enhance their smallpox preparedness.
-- Angela Stewart

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