Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Project Announced
The flu is still the flu, whether it is regular seasonal flu or a pandemic influenza or bird flu. That is the message conveyed by Dr. Covia Stanley, health director for Region 6 of the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control that covers Horry, Georgetown and Williamsburg counties. A pandemic flu, however, is a flu that spreads easily from person to person around the world in a very short time and causes serious illness and deaths. Speaking at a press conference held Aug. 14, 2006 announcing a Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Project in which DHEC is partnering with the local chapter of the American Red Cross, Stanley said the precautions for preventing the flu remain the same.
“First, get vaccinated each year, especially if you are high risk,” he said. “Second, cover your cough. Third wash your hands more often with soap…and, fourth, stay home when you are sick.” Stanley said the preparedness project will provide education to the public on how to deal with the flu this flu season and if or when a pandemic strikes.
What is Pandemic Flu?
The partnership between the Coastal South Carolina Chapter of the American Red Cross and DHEC will focus on educating the citizens of the tri-county area on how to prepare for and handle a pandemic influenza or bird flu outbreak. The project is being supported through $101,378.00 in funding, which is SC DHEC Region 6’s part of a $1.5 million allocation to South Carolina from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that is earmarked for pandemic planning activities. Another $3.2 million has been earmarked for phase two of the statewide project. Region 6 has partnered with the local Red Cross, which will administer the funds and coordinate media activities and speaker’s bureau inquiries.
<Speaker's Bureau Info>
The first phase of this local project includes holding county-wide Planning
Summits in each of the Region 6 counties. The partnership between the local Red Cross and Region 6 is ideal because both agencies provide services in the same tri-county region. The departments of emergency management have joined this partnership as each understand the impact a pandemic will have on critical infrastructure services and the need to prepare now.
|
To schedule a presentation on pandemic flu/bird flu for a civic, school, church or other local organization in Horry, Georgetown or Williamsburg counties, call (843) 477-0020. Registered nurses and health educators Fran Long and Saundra Carmichael are available to make presentations and provide educational materials at no charge. Dr. Robert Ball can be scheduled to speak to medical groups. Other speakers available include Tom Russo and Dr. Covia Stanley.
A basic information packet is distributed at pandemic influenza presentations that targets individual and family preparedness. Hard copies of planning took kits are available for organizations and supplement the “Individual & Family Preparedness” packet. Planning Toolkits are also available at the
SC DHEC
Website. These basic packets are the same as those distributed at presentations in hard copy and are also available in Spanish.
The purpose of the SC DHEC
Website is to provide a selection of materials that will aid facilitators with preparation for training events and community outreach activities. The materials are organized in toolkits and packets for specific target audiences. This will allow you to select the handouts, fact sheets, checklists, and /
or PowerPoint presentations that you think are appropriate for your activities.
Additional materials are available at the www.pandemicflu.gov website, a one-stop access to U.S. Government avian and pandemic flu information. This site is managed by the Department of Health and Human Services.
Top of Page
|
County-Wide Planning Summits
Georgetown County Prepares for Pandemic Influenza
The following documents were distributed at either the Pre-Summit Planning Conference held Wednesday, July 26th or the Planning Summit held August 16, 2006 and can be downloaded for individual or organizational use.
Georgetown County Pandemic Influenza Response Plan
(pdf file)
Continuity of Operations Planning:
Horry County Prepares for Pandemic Influenza
The following document was distributed at the Pre-Summit Planning Conference conducted Monday, August 28th, 2006. The COOP documents will be presented at the Planning Summit scheduled for October 11, 2006. Either document can be downloaded for either individual or organizational use.
Horry County Pandemic Influenza Response Plan
(pdf file)
Continuity of Operations Planning:
Williamsburg County Prepares for Pandemic Influenza
The following document was distributed at the Pre-Summit Planning Conference conducted Wednesday, July 26th, 2006. The COOP documents will be presented at the Planning Summit scheduled for September. Either document can be downloaded for either individual or organizational use.
Williamsburg County Pandemic Influenza Response Plan
(pdf file)
Continuity of Operations Planning:
Top of Page
|
