The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #61152

Darren Collins, BS¹, Sara Forsting, MSPH¹, Michael Frasier, PhD², Charles Ishikawa, MSPH¹, Laurence Raine, PhD², Zarnaaz Rauf, MPH², and Scott Wetterhall, MD, MPH³. (1) Center for Public Health Preparedness, DeKalb County Board of Health, 445 Winn Way, Decatur, GA 30030, (2) Research and Evaluation, National Association of County and City Health Officials, 1100 17th Street, NW, Second Floor, Washington, DC 20036, (3) DeKalb County Board of Health, Center for Public Health Preparedness, 445 Winn Way, PO Box 987, Decatur, GA 30031

The DeKalb County Board of Health – Center for Public Health Preparedness has used bioterrorism tabletop exercises to educate, inform and build credibility with the members of the first response community and other key stakeholders in our community. In partnership with the National Association of City and County Health Officials (NACCHO), we have developed a product called, “BT-Create” which attempts to share some of the lessons that we have learned associated with the design, development and facilitation of tabletop exercises. Tabletop exercises provide a platform to begin discussing the complexities associated with mounting an effective and timely response to a bioterrorist event. They have the added benefit of simulating events in compressed time which provides additional challenges to the participants. When done properly, they provide an invaluable learning experience for all of those involved. When done improperly, they can damage credibility, misinform participants and further confuse the roles and responsibilities of the participating agencies.

Learning Objectives:

• • Describe the key attributes that need to be consideration during the design and development of a tabletop exercise.
• • Recognize the barriers to success when conducting & facilitating a tabletop exercise.
• • Create a bioterrorism tabletop exercise utilizing the resources we provide.

Keywords: Local Public Health Agencies, Bioterrorism

Related Web page: www.dekalbhealth.net

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.