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Public Health and
Emergency Preparedness
The Role of Public Health in Emergency Response
Public health responds to any event that poses a risk of significant increase in human morbidity (illness/injury) and/or mortality (death).
What can cause a Public Health Emergency?
A public health emergency can be triggered by such things as:
Bioterrorism
Pandemic flu (Flu that spreads more widely than normal)
Novel Virus (SARS)
Emerging infectious disease
Chemical exposure
Outbreaks of common diseases
Who responds to an emergency?
Your local community is responsible for handling any local emergency. No matter how large the incident or who perpetrates the incident or what type of emergency it is, the first line of response must come from local authorities. Those involved will vary depending upon the incident but range from the most frequent responders of police, fire, and EMS, to less frequently seen city and county emergency management, health department or county commissioners.
What are we doing in Cherokee County to prevent and prepare for a public health emergency?
The county has special funding from the federal government to plan and prepare for a health emergency. More info
How would the health department be involved if an incident did occur?
Your health department is responsible for detecting a disease event, controlling its spread, and ensuring treatment of those affected. More info
What is the role of state and federal agencies?
State and federal agencies only respond when requested to do so by the local authorities. When state and federal personnel do respond, they are under the command of the local authorities. To learn more about state efforts visit the Kansas Department of Emergency Management at http://www.accesskansas.org/kdem/ and the Kansas Bioterrorism program page at http://www.ksbiot.org/ .
How can I prepare for an emergency?
Several agencies provide information on personal and home emergency preparedness, including the American Red Cross and Federal Emergency Management Agency. For information on sheltering in place and other preparedness and response recommendations, visit the following sites:
Kansas Department of Health and Environment Bioterrorism web page: http://www.ksbiot.org/planning_preparedness.htm#2
The Department of Homeland Security hosts a web site full of information for individuals, businesses and kids at http://www.ready.gov/
How can I help my children if there is a disaster?
Children need reassurance and can benefit from learning more about emergencies. More info
Are there recommendations for businesses and workplaces?
What would you do if there were suspicious white powder in your mail room? What would you do if three people suddenly became ill at work with similar symptoms? Do you have a plan for the unthinkable? Have you thought about it? More info
Who do I call?
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