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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Responding to Terrorist Incidents and Major Disasters: A Large-Scale Disaster Simulation Drill in the Kansas CIty Area

Elizabeth Ablah, PhD, MPH1, Deborah Fromer, MPH1, Kurt Konda, MA1, Carolyn Synovitz, MD, MPH1, Deborah Wolfe, BA1, Ruth Wetta-Hall1, Craig Molgaard1, Amy Chesser, MAC1, Doren Fredrickson, MD, PhD1, and David Cook, PhD2. (1) Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita, 1010 N. Kansas, Wichita, KS 67214, 316-293-2627, eablah@kumc.edu, (2) External Affairs, University of Kansas Medical Center, 3901 Rainbow Way, Kansas City, KS 66160, Angola

Purpose: Kansas and Missouri first responders requested multidisciplinary training that would allow numerous professional groups to coordinate activities and build capacity. Methods: The University of Kansas Medical Center conducted a large scale mass casualty simulation, preceded by intense, hands-on training. Six training tracks were offered: command, disaster medicine, rescue specialist, law enforcement, community disaster response, and disaster communications. An abandoned, multi-story building provided the venues for the overnight simulation. A questionnaire was developed to assess competencies and objectives, pre and post classroom training, and again post drill. Results: Course participants (n= 342 registered), hailed from more than 23 counties, 4 states, and represented 13 different occupations. Prior to classroom instruction, and the drill, 63% of respondents reported their state would perform either well, or very well, in an actual disaster event. Following the drill, less than half (48%), agreed, or strongly agreed, their state would perform well in an actual disaster. After classroom instruction, 72% of all respondents rated their ability to recognize a terrorist event as good or excellent and following the drill, this figure climbed to 81%. After the drill, 82% rated their ability to participate in a coordinated, multidisciplinary response to a terror attack as either good or excellent, and 89% either agreed, or strongly agreed, the overall drill had enhanced their ability to respond to an actual disaster event. Conclusion: To guarantee a rapid response in the event of a public health emergency, first responders must understand each others roles, and perform them effectively.

Learning Objectives:

Related Web page: www.kansas-antiterror.org

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered

Disaster Preparedness Posters

The 134th Annual Meeting & Exposition (November 4-8, 2006) of APHA