Online Program

Oral

Disaster epidemiology (DE) (the application of epidemiology in disaster settings) is a source of reliable and actionable information for decision-makers and stakeholders in the disaster management cycle. However, epidemiological methods have yet to be routinely integrated into disaster response and fully communicated to response leaders. The Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE), in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention developed a framework for DE and provide training to epidemiologists at local, state and tribal health departments and in academia to build capabilities to respond to the disasters they face. This session will provide an overview of the DE framework and describe tools and methods used to enhance the capacity epidemiologists in planning for, responding to and recovering from disasters. Specific areas covered will include how to conduct surveillance in emergency shelter settings, identify and track disaster-related injuries, and apply electronic death registration systems to allow rapid identification of fatalities associated with emergencies. Purpose: The purpose of this session is to initiate a discussion and awareness among epidemiologists and public health practitioners of the importance and applicability of using disaster epidemiology as part of the public health response to disasters, and to provide specific examples of these methods and tools Relevance and Importance: Public health involvement in planning for, responding to and recovering from emergencies and disasters has become an important component in the disaster management cycle. Disaster epidemiology presents a source of reliable and actionable information for leaders and decision-makers at the local, state, regional, national and international levels. Experience has demonstrated that natural and manmade disasters can involve all disciplines within public health, from communicable diseases to injury, chronic diseases, occupational safety and health, and mental health (and beyond). This session will provide an overview of the role of disaster epidemiology in public health response and will focus on methods for conducting surveillance in emergency shelters, applying injury epidemiology tools in disaster settings, the using electronic death registration systems during disasters.

Session Objectives: Identify the importance of disaster epidemiology in public health emergency response efforts and describe the framework for its application during disasters. Describe the methods and application of shelter surveillance and injury epidemiology tools to produce actionable information for decision-makers. Demonstrate newly proposed processes to be used by medical examiners/coroners to identify and certify disaster-related deaths.

CE Credits: Medical (CME), Health Education (CHES), Nursing (CNE), Public Health (CPH) , Masters Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES)