From the editor

While all of us should hope for the best, we must also ensure that we are well prepared for the worst. Drills and exercises are an important part of preparing ourselves to successfully handle the challenges posed by emergency situations. Drills give colleagues valuable practical experience and reflect weaknesses in existing contingency plans before they create problems in a real-life event. This issue’s cover story takes a closer look at how HA develops and executes its drill protocols.

After five years of extensive fieldwork and research, colleagues working in HA’s Toxicology Reference Laboratory have published Hong Kong’s first atlas of poisonous plants with clinical information. It will facilitate the work of frontline healthcare staff in suspected plant poisoning cases and help raise public awareness about the potential dangers of certain local flora! The team’s effort in producing a book full of insights is highly appreciated. Please to read more.

HA’s New Year Run will be held very soon. Runners are advised to read the article to learn more about changes on the regular route this year.

With Chinese New Year almost upon us, HASLink wishes you and your loved ones great happiness and good health in the Year of the Rooster!