In Case of Emergency, Read This Blog

In Case Of Emergency, Read Blog

A Citizen’s Eye View of Public Preparedness

Webinar On Communicating With The Public, Other Stakeholders On #H1N1 & Seasonal Flu

September 20th, 2009 · No Comments

On Wednesday, there is a free webinar on utilizing social media and other technologies for H1N1 and seasonal flu communications. It is being organized by the Center of Excellence for Risk and Crisis Communications at Booz Allen Hamilton.
The one-hour webinar is co-sponsored by the American Public Health Association, the International Association of Emergency Managers and the [...]

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Tags: Education · Preparedness 2.0

With Voting Ending Tonight, Some ‘Endorsements’ In #H1N1 Flu.Gov Citizen Video PSA Election

September 16th, 2009 · 1 Comment

As today is the last day that you can vote in the U.S. Health and Human Services’ H1N1 Flu Prevention PSA contest on Flu.Gov, I thought I would ask some folks from the worlds of social media, public health and/or emergency preparedness for their top pick from the 10 worthy finalists.
Among those I surveyed, the most [...]

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Tags: Contests · Pandemic Flu

#H1N1 Rap By Dr. Clarke Is This Blog’s Pick In HHS/YouTube #Flu PSA Contest; You Can Vote From Among 10 Worthy Finalists (And Watch All 242 Eclectic Entries) At Flu.Gov

September 8th, 2009 · 3 Comments

The 10 finalists for the U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) YouTube Flu Prevention PSA contest have been announced and posted on Flu.Gov. You can now vote here through September 16th for the winner who will receive a $2500 prize (and whose PSA will be featured on national television).
The finalists are all good and their entries [...]

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Tags: Humor · Pandemic Flu · Preparedness Ideas · Preparedness Tips · Risk Communications

Survey Says Women More Conscientious Than Men On #H1N1; While Only 1 In 10 Americans Are Very Worried About Flu, 93% Are Taking Or Planning Steps To Protect Themselves

August 27th, 2009 · No Comments

While only 1 in 10 of Americans surveyed by the American Red Cross claimed to be very worried about H1N1 flu, 93 percent say they are are taking or planning to take at least one action to guard against the H1n1 flu. The poll was released earlier today.
“Even though most Americans aren’t extremely worried about the virus, [...]

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Tags: Pandemic Flu · Public Opinion · Red Cross

On #H1N1, Obama/State-Local Leaders Should Highlight Model Company Plans To Set “Tone” For Businesses; New Survey Underscores Balance Between Public Concern/Complacency

August 19th, 2009 · 2 Comments

U.S. officials today offered “guidance” to the private sector in preparing for the H1n1 flu this Fall. In Flu.Gov’s new ‘toolkit’ for businesses, there is “Guidance for Businesses and Employers to Plan and Respond to the 2009 – 2010 Influenza Season.” The section “Actions Employers Should Take Now” includes these key, yet somewhat tricky, recommendations:
*Allow sick workers to [...]

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Tags: Business Preparedness · Pandemic Flu

Cast Of 300 Citizen “Patient Actors” At Anthrax Scenario Drill In Downtown New York Helps Test Government’s Response To Bioterror/H1N1

August 17th, 2009 · 1 Comment

“You have learned from the news media and City officials that there has been a widespread airborne anthrax release across the city that may affect large numbers of the City’s residents. [Anthrax exposure may cause fever, coughing, malaise, fatigue, myalgias, profound sweats, and chest discomfort. If anthrax is inhaled and not treated, death is very [...]

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Tags: City Preparedness · Preparedness Events

Be A “Fake Patient” To Help NYC Prepare For Anthrax, H1N1; City Looking For More Volunteers For Medicine Distribution Drill On Saturday

August 11th, 2009 · 1 Comment

The City of New York is looking for at least a few hundred more good men (and women) to be “Fake Patients” in a “Point of Dispensing (POD) Emergency Response Exercise” on Saturday afternoon. Officials say the drill will help in the planning for both a possible anthrax attack as well as the possible return [...]

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Tags: Biological Terrorism · Preparedness Events · Public Health Preparedness

Walking (& Communicating) The Fine Line With The Public On H1N1

August 10th, 2009 · No Comments

In today’s Washington Post, there’s a good front page piece, “Northern Hemisphere Braces As Swine Flu Heads North”, which looks at the government’s efforts to plan and prepare for the possible return of the H1N1 flu in the Fall. In fact, H1n1 is on the agenda for President Obama’s meetings with the leaders of Canada and [...]

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Tags: Pandemic Flu

CDC To Hold 10 “Public Engagement” Forums To Solicit Citizen Guidance On H1N1 Vaccinations

August 2nd, 2009 · 2 Comments

CIDRAP News reports that the Centers For Disease Control (CDC) will be holding public forums throughout the nation this month to get citizen feedback on how to implement this Fall’s H1N1 flu vaccinations. According to the article:
The CDC will hold 10 “public engagement” meetings around the country to get the citizenry’s advice on whether the [...]

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Tags: Pandemic Flu

Aligning Emergency Management & Homeland Security Cultures (Not To Mention Health, Law Enforcement, Infrastructure, Technology, Etc.) To Prepare Public For Diverse 21st Century Threats

July 27th, 2009 · 2 Comments

After returning to New York from the H1N1 Summit, I was listening to the “Homeland Security Inside & Out “radio show on my iPod riding the subway (ironically to a meeting at the City’s Office of Emergency Management’s headquarters in downtown Brooklyn).
In my Flu Summit summary post, I had mentioned how struck I was by the [...]

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Tags: Media