EMS workers, nurses, and other hospital personnel suited up for a drill to practice responses to a mass casualty incident involving hazardous substances.

Hospital officials say proper equipment and knowing proper safety steps are critical to providing the best patient care in the event of an actual hazmat emergency.

"If there was a mass casualty incident…and our patients who are injured needed to be seen and have contaminated clothing…they need to be decontaminated before they come into the emergency department. Otherwise, they could contaminate the entire hospital," says Nicole Loiz from St. Vincent's emergency department.