What Is Allegan County Health Department

Ensuring that staff has been trained in first Aid and that we have the right equipment. To complete accident forms when an accident occurs and getting the

Staff are made aware of their duty to inform HT of changes/hazards/problems as and when they occur.

Establishment of a chain of command in a situation such as a severe storm or other disaster is essential. Because there may be a disruption to commonly used manners of communication, such as television, telephones, and the internet, it is important to have a clear outline of where and to whom to report, how to find answers, and who will perform necessary tasks. In the simulation, the Public Health Department is both a link in the larger, county-wide chain of command and has its own hierarchy structure. Within the scope of the county, the Public Health Department reports to the Medical/Health Branch Director who is directly under the Operations Chief. The Operations Chief, who is in charge of managing and monitoring the actions of each department, reports to the Emergency Operations Commander. The Emergency Operations commander is the highest link in the chain, not only overseeing the operations of the various governmental departments, but also the officers in charge of Safety, Public Information, and Legal.

An appointed member of staff is responsible for checking the first aid boxes on a regular basis and for placing orders to replenish stock. All staff are

Communication is essential between health care facilities and the CDC. For example, the facilities experience an emergency and follow certain quarantine protocols and alert the local public health department and the CDC. The CDC organizes secure transmission tactics to merge and notify public health officials at local, state, and federal levels. The institute deploys scientific and logistical proficiency, personnel, and vital medical resources to the area of the emergency. The CDC (2012) explains the implementation of the essential medical assets for protection of communities in the state of an emergency:

At 0745hours, Specialist Bausbaugh notified Operations Manager Christopher Lynn of the incident. At 0746hours, Specialist Madera notified Facility Director Michael Critchosin. At

Have readily available the name, telephone number and address of all key personnel who will need to be contacted on very short notice, should a disaster occur. (Annex C).

We have established a comprehensive Emergency Operations Plan to handle our resources to provide safe environment for our patients in the event of adverse conditions such as power failures, water, fuel shortages, flooding, and communication breakdowns. Our facilities are prepared, staff knows responsibilities to extend patient care under disrupted utilities and other emergency situations.

The CHD Preparedness and Support Unit in the Bureau of Preparedness and Response (BPR) shares the Florida Department of Health (DOH) responsibility for ensuring the state’s public health and health care systems are prepared to respond to disasters and other public health emergencies. Therefore, the Unit is responsible for promoting and supporting preparedness activities at the local level by developing, evaluating and providing technical assistance for accomplishing the CHD Expectations; serving as liaison and point of contact for questions, concerns and needs related to CHD Preparedness, and by seeking and allocating funds locally according to cooperative agreements and statutory authority.

This includes the detection, epidemiologic assessment, and analysis of disease occurrence and spread, along with compiling health statistics including morbidity and mortality. The determination of risk factors associated with acquisition of disease and identification of persons at risk for disease are major goals of the assessment. Also making recommendations including isolation and quarantine and assuring prophylaxis. The Allegan County Health Department’s Health Officer (ACHO) with the guidance of the Allegan County Health Department’s Medical Director is responsible for making public health recommendations to individuals and groups to treat and/or prevent further spread of disease. These actions include, but are not limited to, recommendations involving isolation, quarantine and/or assuring medication for prophylaxis. This prophylaxis assurance is provided by direct assistance from the department and identification of additional resources outside the department to administer prophylaxis when the need exceeds departmental

As the Disaster Coordinator for the city I am responsible for ensuring the public safety and welfare of the citizens within the city's jurisdiction. This requires me to have a full understanding on my role and responsibilities for managing disaster response and employing resources in order to save lives, protect property, the environment. Additionally I’m tasked to preserve the less tangible but equally important social, economic and political structures. My first reaction was to alert the regional Joint Terrorism Task Force to prepare them for possible activation. Next it is vital to gain situational awareness and develop a Common Operating Picture (COP). This COP is the who, what, where, when and how as it relates to the incident. Situational awareness starts at the incident site and includes continuous monitoring of reporting channels to gain

5. How can the CSO in this scenario most effectively communicate newly and previously identified risk events that have grown because of the changes to senior management?

Media partnership is another critical assumption that is used in an emergency situation. The media takes the responsibility of giving information to the public, as well as receiving information from them too. Thus, any emergency response team must work together with the media to give information that is particularly accurate and timely to avert situations that aggravate tension. Emergency managers must have an understanding of the needs and requirements of the media and the value that they come with in emergency response situations (Haddow & Haddow, 2013).

carry out their roles and responsibilities as detailed in the relevant health and safety policies and procedures

Over the past few decades, the significance, magnitude and consequence of risk management and communication have been brought before the world over and over again in a number of situations related to health, terrorist activities, natural disasters etc. When one turns the pages of history, it is rather obvious that lack of planning and absence of resources due to unpreparedness makes it difficult for the concerned authorities to manage an emergency or epidemic a problematic and traumatic task. The chaotic situations can turn out to be more nerve-racking and tense when preparations are not made before hand (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 2002).