April 2012 Issue 5 EP-MRC MONTHLY Upcoming Events: • April 19 th Volunteer Appreciation Lunch • June 8 th BCHD Exercise Individual Highlights: Go Kit 2 Phone Tree 3 Zombie Attack 4 Weather 5 Event Calendar 6 Points of Dispensing, or PODs, are defined as a site or sites where medications or vaccines intended to prevent disease may be given quickly to a large number of people in the event of a public health emergency. ……... You may be wondering where you as an EP-MRC volunteer fit into this picture. EP-MRC serves as a ready, trained corps of volunteers to be utilized to support both emergency management and Health Departments in an emergency. This means that our volunteers may be utilized to help staff a POD site. Understanding how a POD runs will help you understand where you may fit into the picture. ……… So, what situations would require a POD? PODs are mainly opened when a large number of people have been exposed to an infection that may make them sick and this disease/infection may result in illness or death that may be prevented by antibiotics or a vaccine. If there are not enough supplies locally when a POD is opened, the medications or vaccines needed would be brought in from the Strategic National Stockpile—a large stockpile of medicine and medical supplies that is to be used to protect the public in the event of a public health emergency. ……… What jobs are required in a POD? PODs require a wide variety of skillsets to function. A list of some jobs can be found below: Translators, Medical Screeners, Pharmacists, Security Personnel, Vaccinators, Mental Health workers, Traffic Control, ID/Badging staff, Runners, IT support, EMS transfer personnel, Greeters, etc. The list goes on. ……… PODs also follow the Incident Command Structure. If you have not completed your IS100 and IS700 online FEMA trainings, we highly suggest you do so before participating in an exercise or real event. EP-MRC also highly encourages our volunteers to participate in a POD exercise at some point in order to better understand the process. Points of Dispensing (POD)
Transcript
April 2012
Issue 5 EP-MRC MONTHLY
Upcoming
Events:
• April 19th
Volunteer
Appreciation Lunch
• June 8th
BCHD Exercise
Individual Highlights:
Go Kit 2
Phone Tree 3
Zombie Attack 4
Weather 5
Event Calendar 6
Points of Dispensing, or PODs, are defined as a site or sites where medications or vaccines intended to prevent disease may be given quickly to a large number of people in the event of a public health emergency. ……... You may be wondering where you as an EP-MRC volunteer fit into this picture. EP-MRC serves as a ready, trained corps of volunteers to be utilized to support both emergency management and Health Departments in an emergency. This means that our volunteers may be utilized to help staff a POD site. Understanding how a POD runs will help you understand where you may fit into the picture. ……… So, what situations would require a POD? PODs are mainly opened when a large number of people have been exposed to an infection that may make them sick and this disease/infection may result in illness or death that may be prevented by antibiotics or a vaccine. If there are not enough supplies locally when a POD is opened, the medications or vaccines needed would be brought in from the Strategic National Stockpile—a large stockpile of medicine and medical supplies that is to be used to protect the public in the event of a public health emergency. ……… What jobs are required in a POD? PODs require a wide variety of skillsets to function. A list of some jobs can be found below:
Translators, Medical Screeners, Pharmacists, Security Personnel, Vaccinators, Mental Health workers, Traffic Control, ID/Badging staff, Runners, IT support, EMS transfer personnel, Greeters, etc. The list goes on. ……… PODs also follow the Incident Command Structure. If you have not completed your IS100 and IS700 online FEMA trainings, we highly suggest you do so before participating in an exercise or real event. EP-MRC also highly encourages our volunteers to participate in a POD exercise at some point in order to better understand the process.
Points of Dispensing (POD)
EP-MRC Monthly Page 2 of 7
“Your “Go Kit” should be
personalized to fit your
needs in an emergency.”
Building a “Go Kit”
In an emergency, there might not be time to collect all the items you may need before rushing out of the house. Creating a “Go Kit,” or emergency supplies kit, will help you and your family to be more prepared. One thing to keep in mind is that emergencies come in all different forms; it is not only tornados and hurricanes that we need to prepare for, but house fires and snow storms as well. You may need to evacuate, but there is also the possibility that you will need to shelter-in-place. Being prepared for both circumstances is helpful. Below is a list of items recommended for a basic kit on the Ready.gov website:
Your “Go Kit” should be personalized to fit your needs in an emergency. For
example, if you have young children, you may want to include a comfort toy or
activity to pass the time. Or if you have pets, be sure to remember to prepare for
them as well.
Also, try to include at least 3 days’ worth of any medications that you may need.
If you need any more information on what to include in your “Go Kit,” visit
During the recent Jefferson County POD exercise on March 28
th, we learned
first-hand why a phone tree is essential to our Unit. The WVREDI system was under maintenance and therefore was only able to send out an email requesting volunteers to participate in the exercise. Not only that, but the system went completely down as volunteers started responding to the notification. Had this been a real event and had the Phone Tree been fully operational, EP-MRC would most likely have activated it in order to see who was available to respond. With that being said, we highly encourage all those interested in responding during an event to submit the Phone Tree Opt-In form in order to be placed on the call list. Currently we have 18 out of 181 volunteers who have opted-in to the Phone Tree. In an actual event, we would need a much larger number of volunteers to support our local community efforts. If you have yet to submit your Phone Tree forms, please do so ASAP. If you have misplaced or not received this form, please email [email protected].
Spring break is a great time for the family to get away from the cold, dark days of winter and have some fun in the sun. When spring flowers arrive so do some pretty heavy-duty showers, and thunderstorms along with high winds and lightening which kills more people each year than tornadoes or hurricanes. Also, heavy rain from thunderstorms can cause flash flooding, and high winds can damage homes and blow down trees and utility poles, causing widespread power outages. Help keep yourself and your family members, and pets, safe if severe spring weather arrives. Here are some tips:
Sun Safety:
Babies: Under 6 months of age, keep them out of direct sunlight. Move your baby into the shade under a tree, umbrella or stroller canopy. Dress babies in lightweight clothing that covers the arms and legs, and have baby wear a hat with a brim to shield their tender facial skin from sun as well.
Kids: Children are encouraged to spend more time outside, and although a great idea, parents need to remember to protect their skin from the strong rays of spring and summer sunshine. Be sure to cover any sun-exposed areas of skin with a sunscreen made for children, preferably a waterproof and sweat-proof kind. You can test your child for an allergic reaction to the sunscreen by placing a small amount on their back in advance.
Pet Preparedness: Spring Safety The following tips on pet preparedness are from a veterinarian. Lilies Lilies are toxic to cats and can cause kidney failure. Even small amounts of lilies can be lethal. Easter Grass Just like string, dental floss, and tinsel, Easter Grass can cause vomiting and an intestinal obstruction. This is a surgical emergency. Chocolate Chocolate contains theobromine, a xanthine compound which is in the same family as caffeine and theophylline- and is toxic to dogs and cats. At low doses chocolate can cause vomiting and diarrhea. At higher doses it can cause a high heart rate, an irregular heart rhythm and seizures. Fertilizers and Pesticides N-P-K fertilizers (containing nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium salts) can cause mild gastro-intestinal upset, and also skin irritation on the paws. Fertilizers containing greater than 1% iron can cause iron toxicity if ingested by a dog. Fleas, Ticks and Mosquitos Fleas can cause skin irritation, allergic reactions and they can transmit tapeworms. Ticks can transmit many diseases such as Lyme disease. Mosquitos can transmit heartworm to cats and dogs, which can be fatal. All dogs and cats should receive topical monthly flea and tick prevention. It is very important to read product labels very carefully on all flea and tick medications as the misuse of such medications, particularly over the counter varieties, can lead to acute toxicity in pets. It is important never to use a dog product on your cat, or vice versa. The ingredient “permethrin” found in some dog medications, while perfectly safe for dogs can be lethal to cats even in very small doses. Insect Bites Dogs can also have severe allergic reactions to insect bites this time of year. Common symptoms are a swollen face and hives. If left untreated, the inflammatory response can cause severe illness and respiratory distress. Fishing Hooks and Lines It is important to keep all fishing hooks away from your pet. They can get stuck in your pet’s mouth or paws. Fishing
lines can cause an obstruction in your pet’s intestines. Leashes Always keep your dog on a leash when they are outside. Make sure all leashes and collars fit appropriately for your animal, and are not worn from usage. Keeping your dog on a leash can prevent them from being hit by a car or getting bit by another dog. Make sure you always keep your pets rabies vaccinations up to date. Have fun welcoming spring and enjoy the warmer weather, but don’t forget to stay prepared, and update your emergency kit to accommodate the change in seasons!
By Denise Ryan
Seasonal Weather Changes
EP-MRC Monthly Page 6 of 7
July 2011 August 2011 September 2011
16th Pet Safety Day Fair 28th Volunteer Meeting 30th Morgan County Drill
7th Soup Kitchen Screenings 9th – 12th Pickin’ in the
Panhandle 12th Promise Neighborhood
Eve of Caring 13th Day of Caring 24th & 25th Target Tabling
October 2011 November 2011 December 2011 1st Freedom’s Run 5th Soup Kitchen Screenings 8th Hispanic Fest 8th & 9th Kmart Safety
Weekend 13th-16th Apple Harvest
Fest 26th IRS Health Fair
9th EAS Test 30th Psychological First Aid
Training 30th Soup Kitchen Screenings
3rd Orientation 28th Soup Kitchen Screenings
January 2012 February 2012 March 2012 20th Cookie Exchange 25th Orientation 25th Soup Kitchen
Screenings 28th Formidable Footprint,
Online Influenza Pandemic Exercise
29th Soup Kitchen Screenings 9th – 11th WV Home Show 21st Animal Response Interest
Meeting 28th Jefferson County Exercise 28th OWLS 28th Soup Kitchen Screenings
April 2012 May 2012 June 2012 Volunteer Appreciation
Month 19th Volunteer Luncheon 25th Soup Kitchen
Screenings
21st-25th MRC National Conference
30th Soup Kitchen Screenings
8th BCHD Exercise 27th Soup Kitchen Screenings
Events Calendar
EP-MRC Monthly Page 7 of 7
As the weather gets warmer we also get more and more thunderstorms. Along with the booming noise comes lightning. Every year people die from lightning strikes and hundreds more are injured. As thunderstorm season approaches there are several things you can do to minimize your risk of damage during a storm, both to your property and to your family. The first thing you need is an emergency kit and a plan that details where your family should meet in the event of a storm. This is especially important in storms where you lose power. You should also remove any dead or rotting trees, shrubs, or limbs that have the potential to come down in a storm. You should also secure any loose items in your yard or on your house like lawn furniture, ornamental décor, etc. Unplug household electronics. Close outside door and shutter windows. If you do not have shutters you can close the blinds, curtains, or shades. Stay off your porch. As the storm approaches, move indoors if possible. Use the 30/30 Lightning Rule while states that, after you see lightning if you cannot count to 30 before hearing thunder you should find shelter indoors. You should stay inside for at least 30 minutes after the last clap of thunder. If you are not near a building, you should find shelter in a car but keep in mind that your car is not as safe as a building. While indoors, try to avoid using a corded phone. Stay away from electrical equipment and cords. Avoid contact with plumbing. This means no showers, laundry, or washing your hands. Do not lie on concrete floors or lean on concrete walls. If you are outdoors when a thunderstorm occurs there are still places you can use for shelter. In wooded areas you should find a low spot and find shelter under a thick grove of small trees. If you are in an open area like a field, find a low place but be aware of the potential for flash floods. If you are on the water, get to shore and find shelter. If at any time during a thunderstorm you feel your hair standing on end, squat down on the balls of your feet. Put your hands over your ears and put your head between your knees. Try to become as small as possible and minimize your contact with the ground. Do not lie flat on the ground! By taking precautions you can minimize the likelihood of being struck by lightning. www.ready.gov has many more tips and information on lightning that you will find useful. So while you start enjoying the warmer weather take care to safeguard yourself against lightning.
Lightening
The Eastern Panhandle Medical Reserve Corps is a volunteer organization that
responds to assist the emergency response system in an event. Nationally, MRC
was created in 2002 in response to President Bush’s call to service during his
State of the Union address.
EP-MRC has been around since 2006. If you or someone you know would like to
become a volunteer, please contact Kristen Lewis, Unit Leader, using the
