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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Michelle Kennedy, MPH, CHES, Roberta Swenson-Milano, MPH, and Denise Santiago, MS, MA. LINCS Agency, Union County Office of Emergency Management, 300 North Avenue, East, Westfield, NJ 07090, 908-518-5620, rm2@njlincs.net

Purpose: Report on experience during the most comprehensive terrorism response exercise ever conducted in the United States

Methods: Conducted mass prophylaxis exercise during TOP OFFICALS 3 (TOP OFF 3). The exercise scenario was an outbreak of pneumonic plague as a result of a terrorist incident in Union County, New Jersey. Community members were recruited to participate as victims / role players for one Point of Dispensing (POD) location. Participants represented the general population, special needs populations including those with visual and hearing impairments, youth, elderly, and diverse racial/ethnic backgrounds. The objectives were to prophylax participants within a limited timeframe and communicate health messages.

Results: Overall, communication needs were met among participants. Challenges encountered included; parental consent issues regarding medication for children without parents or guardians present, victim / role players medication refusal and quarantine issues, and victim / role players with medication restrictions. Translators were made available for diverse language needs. Signs were made for the hearing impaired, however official sign language interpreters were not readily available. Materials were available in English and Spanish.

Conclusions: Meeting the needs of Union County's diverse population is challenging during times of emergency. The exercise provided the conduit to enhance public health infrastructure by building relationships with the local emergency services agencies, finding resources including language interpreters, and other health information resources. Further exploration is needed to develop a plan providing health related materials for diverse racial and ethnic populations, as well as the deaf and blind populations during times of emergency or disaster.

Learning Objectives:

• 1. Discuss the role of a POD (Point of Dispensing)in an urban New Jersey area during the most comprehensive terrorism response exercise ever conducted in the United States
• 2. Understand challenges involved in communicating health related messages within the POD and to the general public in Union County, New Jersey including special needs populations such as those with visual and hearing impairments, youth, elderly, and diverse racial/ethnic backgrounds.
• 3. Discuss how the exercise provided the conduit to enhance public health infrastructure during a terrorism-based exercise by building relationships with the local emergency services agencies, finding resources including language interpreters, and other health information resources.

Keywords: Community Health Planning, Exercise

Related Web page: www.ucnj.org/lincs

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered

Handout (.ppt format, 12976.0 kb)