EPRF Lesson 3

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Lesson 3 Responding to Emergency Events
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Objectives

• Know what to do in the wake of a disaster
• Know who is responsible for what in a disaster
• Follow local procedures for emergency response
• Respond to activities that involve your area of
  expertise
• Follow an emergency plan for you and your family
• Follow an emergency plan for your workplace

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Emergency response
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Immediate actions

• Information
• Assessments
• Capacity
• Population needs
• Facility needs
• Housing
• Dissemination

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Responsibility for PH in a disaster
Local County/Municipal Health Departments State Department of Health State Department of Agriculture U.S. Department of Agriculture State Environmental Agency U.S. Environmental Protection Agency State Department of Natural Resources Army Corps of Engineers Food and Drug Administration Local planning councils/organizations State Department of Public Safety Homeland Security and Emergency Management State National Guard Federal Emergency Management Agency U.S. Dept. of Defense U.S. Dept. of Energy Centers for Disease Control Federal Bureau of Investigation
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(No Transcript)
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EH response activities

• outbreak investigation
• water safety
• food safety
• sanitation (sewage)
• mass care
• solid waste management
• vector control
•  hazardous materials
•  household hazardous waste
•  hazardous waste
•  medical/infectious waste
•  chemical incidents
•  radiological incidents

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1. Outbreak investigation

• Outbreaks uncommon
• Preventive activities
• Early detection treatment
• Evaluation of food facility
• or water source
• Health Dept. - supporting role

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2. Water safety

• Ensure safe, potable water is available
• Prevent outbreaks of water-borne diseases
• Provide information about water safety and supply
  to the public
• Provide technical assistance guidance to
  regulated food service establishments

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3. Food safety

• Conduct inspections of licensed facilities
• Ensure facilities can provide for hand-washing,
  safe water, and refrigeration
• Provide information about food safety

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4. Sanitation

• Prevent human exposure and the spread of
  disease-causing microorganisms
• Monitor for and/or prevent contamination of
  domestic water supplies
• Monitor for and prevent the degradation of
  surface and groundwater quality

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5. Mass care

• Provide care assistance through
• temporary shelters
• mobile feeding operations
• direct distribution of relief supplies
• Ensure that safe feeding and shelter conditions
  are available at emergency gathering places

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6. Solid waste management

• Solid waste infrastructure interruption
• System overburden
• Potential public health concerns
• Solid waste proper storage, collection and
  disposal
• Guidance, oversight and liaison

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7. Vector control

• Reduce spread of disease psychological stress
  from increase in insects and rodents
• Provide information to residents about mosquitoes
• Coordinate emergency corrective measures against
  vectors

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8. Hazardous materials

• Take health and safety precautions at an incident
  site
• Identify where vulnerable populations are located
• Assist with procedures to assess and mitigate a
  hazardous materials incident

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9. Household hazardous waste

• Provide information about waste collection
  activities for homeowners
• Discourage washing or disposing of hazardous
  materials into sewers, drains or soil

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10. Hazardous waste

• Hazardous waste generators/facilities
• Lead agency for release
• Technical assistance for cleanup activities
• Waste disposal

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11. Medical waste

• Identify locations where medical waste is being
  generated
• Verify facilities are operational
• Increase medical waste collection and treatment
  to prevent accumulation
• Recommend emergency containment

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12. Chemical incidents

• Work with emergency responders agencies to
  ensure public safety
• Assess impact on food safety and water supply
  sources
• Assess casualties alert facilities
• Provide information about the nature of the
  chemical
• Explain decontamination
• Inform the public

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13. Radiological incidents

• Provide information, guidance reassurance to
  the public
• Collaborate with other emergency response
  organizations
• Ensure availability of
• medical treatment
• Conduct environmental monitoring assist in
  personal monitoring

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Personal plan

• Emergency Preparedness Checklist
• from FEMA and the American Red Cross at
• FEMA Emergency Kit Checklist
• Creating an emergency plan, with a floor plan
• Preparing a disaster supply kit
• Doing a home hazard hunt
• If you need to evacuate
• Preparing an emergency car kit
• Fire safety

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Workplace plan

• Download ideas for workplace plan from
• http//www.ready.gov/business

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Summary

• Conduct rapid assessments, meet needs of the
  people and essential facilities, and disseminate
  information.
• Communicate to prevent confusion,
  misunderstandings, and duplication of efforts.
• Use decision process with three main points
  assessment, investigation and response.
• Respond to activities involving your area of
  expertise.
• Follow an emergency plan for you, your family and
  your workplace.