September 17, 2019

EPIC Exchange

 

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Don't keep this great resource to yourself! Please share it with your colleagues and networks. If you would like more information on Emergency Preparedness and Response, visit CDC's Emergency Preparedness & Response website.

 

EPIC Webinar

 

EPIC Exchange: 2019 National Preparedness Month

 

 

Hello from CDC’s Emergency Partners Information Connection,


National Preparedness Month (NPM) is recognized each September to promote family and community disaster and emergency planning now and throughout the year. Join CDC’s Center for Preparedness and Response and our FEMA partners from the Ready Campaign for CDC EPIC’s 2019 NPM webinar. The webinar will feature presentations from CDC about its Prepare Your Health web resources and new digital media toolkit, and from the Ready Campaign about their NPM campaign, “Prepared, Not Scared,” and new Ready Kids materials. CDC encourages leaders who are responsible for the safety of others to attend. This includes community leaders, public health workers, emergency responders, school administrators, managers of assisted living facilities, and workplace safety officers. It’s better to be prepared and not need it than to face disaster unprepared. Click here to learn more about this webinar, including continuing education opportunities.

 

Additional Learning Opportunities and Resources

 

How to Help Loved Ones in Hurricane-Affected Areas


If you have friends, family, or other loved ones in hurricane-affected areas, you can help ensure they stay safe by sending them health and safety information. This toolkit offers different messages in both English and Spanish that you can send via text message, email, or social media. Even if you do not personally know anyone in affected areas, you can still help spread these important messages.

 

 

Disasters—Keeping Volunteers, Workers, and Responders Safe

 

Are you helping to clean up, rebuild, or support other response and recovery efforts after a flood, earthquake, storm, fire, or other disaster? If so, then it’s a good idea to be prepared and informed about how you can stay safe and healthy while responding. Watch this presentation from CDC’s Emergency Partners Information Connection and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health to learn how to reduce risk from injuries, chemical exposures, environmental hazards, and psychological stressors. 

 

Salvation Army Training Opportunities

 

Preparedness is the first phase of the Emergency Management Cycle. Just as individuals and families must prepare for potential dangers and threats, disaster workers, too, must prepare by participating in training classes. With adult learners in mind, courses are to emphasize group interaction and cooperative learning. Training courses include classes in incident management, canteen operations, food service, emotional and spiritual care, and basic first aid and CPR training. Disaster training courses are rated according to difficulty; the higher the difficulty level, the more complex the knowledge presented. Certain courses may also require prerequisite classes.

 

Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Webinar

 

Please save the date for a rescheduled WASH webinar on Wednesday, September 18, 2019, 2:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m. ET, from CDC’s Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases. The agenda will include presentations on real-life examples of the role of public health in emergency water supply planning, and an introduction to the 2019 Emergency Water Supply Planning Guide (EWSP) to help healthcare facilities prepare for, respond to, and recover from a water supply interruption.

If you are dialing into the meeting, conference line 1.866.687.4175
Attendee passcode: 6210397
To join the meeting, go to https://go.foodshield.org/?1Pyk3ODI
Type in your full name and log in as guest user, even if you have a FoodSHIELD account

 

 

EPIC Exclusive

 

National Public Health Information Coalition (NPHIC)

 

What is NPHIC’s Mission?


The National Public Health Information Coalition is the premier network of public health communicators in the United States and U.S. territories. We are committed to "making public health public" by sharing our knowledge, expertise, and resources to effectively communicate about the important health issues of the day—helping people lead healthier lives in healthier communities.

What is the role of NPHIC in a public health emergency?


NPHIC serves as a channel for communication directors, public information officers, and risk communicators at every state and territory health department to receive real-time information about an emergency. The goal is a “many voices, one message” response. With its robust network of communicators and history of leadership, NPHIC increases the capabilities of public health communicators to cascade emergency health messages throughout their jurisdictions quickly and effectively. NPHIC also does that every day by sharing information about current and chronic health concerns and providing support through its website, conference calls, webinars, and other resources.

How do you plan for emergencies?


NPHIC builds on lessons learned, but NPHIC’s real strength is in its membership. NPHIC facilitates networking among its members, so they can share information through NPHIC and not have to re-invent the wheel when time and resources are strained. Post-event, NPHIC usually conducts regional calls where members from across the country share their experiences—what worked, what didn’t, and what should be done differently next time. That information comes from the front lines, and NPHIC incorporates it into its planning.

What is one experience or lesson learned that you have from an emergency response?


In an emergency, the health communicators with “boots on the ground” need to have the facts—fast. They also need support from NPHIC colleagues who have experienced similar crises and can share their resources and advice. One member recently said that he learned “how important it is to know people who are in other organizations and being able to trust them when they say something or say they’ll provide information to you.” Others told NPHIC, “The networking and opportunities that we have to work and share with and learn from other health communicators is something that I have personally found to be very valuable and beneficial.” And, “Honestly and truly, NPHIC has been a great resource for me as a new person working in public health communication.” Through disease outbreaks, severe weather incidents, and myriad other crises, it has become clear that public health communicators have a lead role in helping to keep people safe and out of harm’s way.

What is one piece of advice that you would give to other EPIC partners?


Get to know each other. It’s often said, “You don’t want to be exchanging business cards during an emergency.” NPHIC members benefit from interacting in calmer circumstances so that when a public health emergency occurs, they know where to find help. NPHIC is the conduit to getting them that help. Also, familiarize yourself with the incident communication resources on the NPHIC website. They might give you the head start you need when you have no time to spare.

Contact Us

 

email

Email: EPIC@cdc.gov

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
1600 Clifton Rd
Atlanta, GA 30333

Questions?
Contact CDC-INFO
800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636) TTY: 888-232-6348 

 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

1600 Clifton Rd   Atlanta, GA 30333   1-800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636)   TTY: 888-232-6348
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