The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #40140

Mary Lou England, RN MS¹, Larry Briggs¹, Claire Dobbins, RN MS¹, and Theresa Heaton, BSN, MPH². (1) Kane County Health Department, Kane County Health Department, 210 South 6th Street, Geneva, IL 60543, (2) Kane County (IL) Health Department, 210 S. Sixth Street, Geneva, IL 60134, 630-208-5149, englandmarylou@co.kane.il.us

As a Health Department Administrator what can you do to protect the American public? Achieving effective health services is the biggest challenge we face in terrorism preparedness. Preparation is the essential key to any successful program. Using open communication and collaboration state and local governments can achieve the goal of "putting the public back into public health" and protecting our populations. Many health departments have not modeled their plans from an interdisciplinary approach. In Kane County our Health Department approached Bioterrorism from a countywide perspective. We received support from multiple departments. Central Services has excelled as a department Local's need to collaborate with. Many Health Departments have not had experience dealing with issues a mass casualty situation would bring such as crowd control,security, prophylaxis, toileting, food, water and diaper changing facilities. Well, our Central Services Director has and he developed a comprehensive administrative readiness manual to use once the Stockpile was delivered. This manual titled,"Comprehensive Terrorism Preparedness" describes step by step-including job descriptions each person's role in stockpile management. The Manual is transportable and can be easily adapted for other agency use. Interdisciplinary Administrative Response and Community Practice Drills for mass casualties are the keys to being ready to react to mass distribution of medications, medical care and supply management in the event of a terrorism attack in your community. We're ready...Are you?

Learning Objectives: "At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

• Describe strengths and limitations of their organizations administrative response to terrorism preparedness.
• Define the concept of interdisciplinary within their own organization.
• Analyze the Comprehensive Terrorism Preparedness Manual for use within their own organization.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.