Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
to protect themselves. A call for calm has been sounded, so as to not have a panicked
population making bad decisions that could harm the emergency response effort. The
SNS is sending supplies in case they are needed and a delivery method and location
has been secured. Officials from the CDC are en route, and experts in how Avian
Influenza develops and is transmitted are working with area doctors and staff in your
agency to try and track down how this case ended up in your locality.
So what are the PHO's main responsibilities during this time?
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Maintain contact
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Because of all the communications lines that are opened up, and all the
various agents and facets of the response that you must deal with, it is
important to be available to continue to receive these communications.
You may or may not be near the quarantine site—such an emergency as
this may not require direct, on-site involvement. But you will need to
be constantly updated on the patient, the reaction, and all the steps that
those involved in the response are taking. Constant communication with
the Incident Commander—if one is designated for this case—is critical.
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Reassure the public
It is very important that the PIO is active in the public eye during this
time. Although everyone is obviously worried about the possible spread
of the disease—you also must coordinate an effort to soothe and educate
the public. Something important to remember in this example is that
much of the population in your jurisdiction will have no idea what they
should or should not do in this situation in terms of staying safe. Panic
is one of the leading risk factors to an effective emergency response, so
information is going to be quick, accurate, and consistently available in
multiple formats (and probably, multiple languages) so that everyone in
your jurisdiction clearly understands the situation, how to stay safe, what
to do if an evacuation is ordered, etc.
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National Guard assistance?
Depending on the response of the public to this situation, or if there
is a lack of resources available in your jurisdiction, you may need to
work with military authorities to receive National Guard assistance in
maintaining order in your jurisdiction. Word spreading about the Avian
Influenza case in your area may be as dangerous as the spread of the dis-
ease itself. The National Guard may be needed to make sure the response
area is secured, while also possibly being called in to help bring in people
who are suffering symptoms and want to be examined.
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Finalize SNS delivery details
At this point, it is too early to tell if you are going to have more than
just an isolated case on your hands. Although primary caregivers on site
have determined that what they need is currently available, that may not
remain true should the situation change in the next 6-12 hours, and
effectively coordinating the delivery of supplies and medicines with the
