Gathering Information

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Ohio Bio-Terrorism Protocols

• Gathering Information

Procedures for ODH Call Takers during an overt
incident
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OVERT Incident

• A threat was made
• We know about it
• Were going to do something about it
• Someone wanted to make a scene
• Most involve Anthrax
• All have been hoaxes

3
Understanding the Problem

• Bio-terrorism has become popular
• Now done in place of bomb threats
• Most threats are hoaxes
• None can be considered a hoax
• Information must be gathered very accurately

4
Ohios Protocols

• Developed after numerous incidents
• Local responders had nothing to go by
• The Players
• ODH
• OSP
• OEMA
• FBI

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Ohio Protocol for Bio Terrorism Incidents
Dispatch Receives Call
Dispatch Fire/Hazmat Police, EMS
Notify Local Health FBI
Call is made to CDC Bridge Line is
Established All affected parties meet on the
Bridge line
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Health Department Functions
Local Health Department
Notify ODH
ODH Notifies CDC Bridge Line Established
7
Bridge Line from CDC
Hospital
CDC Bridge Line
EMA
Affected Facility
Local Health
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Course of Action
Bridge Line Decision Made
Specimen Collected
Results
Transport to ODH Lab at OSH
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Bridge Line from CDC
EMS
Police
Hospital
Fire
CDC Bridge Line
EMA
Affected Facility
Local Health
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Decon / Prophylaxis
If necessary, decon should be done with water
only, in most cases (Click for Chart)
Medical Control and the local health officials
should make the decision about prophylaxis
Long Term Monitoring of patients may be
needed LHD should keep records
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What Happens in the Field

• Responders use a tool called the Incident Command
  System
• Fire Department is in charge of initial response
• Police is in charge of security
• FBI is in charge of the investigation

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Additional field Information

• 911 Dispatcher should have sent proper response
• Fire should have set up Command System
• Evidence will be gathered
• ODH Lab will accept specimen for identification

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What we need to know

• Get the following information
• 1. Call Back number
• 2. Who is the caller and agency
• 3. Where did the incident occur
• 4. Who is in charge
• 5. What is the threat

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What you need to do

• Contact Bureau of Infectious Disease
• The person is not important, the information is.
• Usually it is Dr. Forrest Smith
• Contact Bureau of Environmental Health and
  Toxicology
• Once again, the information is important
• BEHT personnel will notify the proper people

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Stuff to Tell the Caller

• Explain to them the sequence of events
• Bridge Line setup
• Who needs to be on it
• Time and place
• Who the players from ODH will be
• Tell them to sit tight and dont do anything
• Find out if they have made any other calls

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What Happens Next

• ODH will establish a Bridge Line with CDC in
  Atlanta
• CDC will give us a number to call
• All concerned parties at ODH and on the scene
  must be given the number including proper FBI
  people
• Once the line is established, ODH will coordinate
  proper scenario

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Termination of the Incident

• Your notes are very important
• Keep good notes
• If there are questions, ask them
• After transport to ODH lab, results will be given
  in 4 to 6 hours
• Bridge line will be again established
• Results will be published

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Positive Results

• On scene responders, local health officials and
  medical personnel must begin prophylaxis
• ODH might coordinate distribution of innoculant
• Locals will have a big job keeping track of
  patients

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Long Term Monitoring

• Must have good relationship with hospitals and
  other med providers
• Keep good adequate records
• Develop a database
• Establish channels with ODH and CDC

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Covert Incident

• This is a totally different type of incident
• May not be identified immediately
• You may identify it because of the number and
  type of calls being made
• May come from many areas of the state or a
  locality
• Will then be treated as A-1 reportable