Audio clip
Jennifer Moorer
When a flu pandemic occurs, officials in Northwest Georgia want to be ready.
A full-scale pandemic influenza preparation exercise Wednesday will help area health officials assess their ability to respond to an outbreak emergency.
“It is always better to be prepared for something,” said Darryl Camp, with Hutcheson Medical Center in Fort Oglethorpe. “We practice these to better ourselves, so each person will know what role to play.”
Officials said that pandemic flu is more severe than the annual seasonal flu.
A pandemic is a deadly, global outbreak of serious illness, and it is essential that everyone — from hospital employees and law enforcement to the public — have a reaction plan in place.
During the drill, North Georgia hospital officials will be given scenarios reflecting situations that could occur during a pandemic. Hospital leaders must know what to do in a variety of conditions, such as if facilities become overcrowded.
Officials said they hope to identify gaps in existing protocols and make sure all agencies communicate well.
“It is important that the agencies are actually in sync,” said Jennifer Moorer, public information officer for the North Georgia Health District.
The Web site Pandemicflu.gov lists worldwide pandemics in 1918, 1957 and 1968. The Web site states that a pandemic could lead to severe illness, death, social disruption and economic loss.
Schools and businesses might have to close and public services would be impaired. Many people worldwide would need medical assistance, and health care facilities would become overwhelmed.
The exercise will employ mock patients. Internet communication will be tested and media representatives will practice getting information to the public.
Ms. Moorer said that even though area agencies are planning for a pandemic, the public needs to do its part.
“People need to be preparing now,” she said. “They (should be) getting a kit prepared at home to stay at home for days, weeks, perhaps even months.”
Ms. Moorer said everyone should have an emergency kit with medical supplies, plenty of water, food and prescription medicines. Pet owners should also think about preparing for their animals’ needs.
“The main thing to know is that their community is working together ... to make sure we are preparing for pandemic influenza,” Ms. Moorer said.
ON THE WEB
For more information on a flu pandemic visit http://www.pandemicflu.gov/index.html.
