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Experiences and Lessons Learned from “Empire 09” Community Reception Center. Neil Muscatiello, M.S. New York State Department of Health March 23, 2011 Bridging the Gap: Public Health and Radiation Emergency Preparedness Conference. “Empire 09”.
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Experiences and Lessons Learned from “Empire 09” Community Reception Center Neil Muscatiello, M.S. New York State Department of Health March 23, 2011 Bridging the Gap: Public Health and Radiation Emergency Preparedness Conference
“Empire 09” • DOE-sponsored national level exercise • RDD scenario • Three phases • Phase I – First 48 hrs., tabletop format • Phase II – 48-120 hrs, simulated real-time field response, including establishment of Community Reception Center (CRC) • Phase III – 45+ days, tabletop/facilitated discussion • 30+ agencies (local, state, federal)
Population Monitoring Goals • Identify individuals who need medical treatment. • Detect radioactive contamination on the body or clothing. • Assess intake of radioactive materials into the body. • Remove external or internal contamination (decontaminate). • Assess the radiation dose received and the resulting health risk from the exposure. • Track long-term health effects.
“Empire 09” CRC Objectives • Establish CRC • Test CRC flow • Develop and test CRC forms • Develop and test criteria for bioassays and laboratory prioritization
Establishing a CRC - Participants • Public Health • Local DOH • Jurisdictions of simulated attack • Other regional DOH • NYSDOH • CDC • State Fire • Law Enforcement • Medical Reserve Corps
Establishing a CRC • POD Model • Consistent with emergency preparedness activities • Familiar to LHD staff • Separate “contaminated” from “less likely to be contaminated” quickly • “Just-in-time” training for CRC job duties • Resources/Equipment
Tracking and Epi Form • Assess contamination in the affected population • Who is visiting CRC? • Where was individual at time of event? Consideration of “Time/Distance/Shielding”? • What symptoms are individuals presenting with? • Document external contamination ~ indicators of potential internal contamination • Who needs referral for further treatment/lab testing?
Bioassay Criteria • Detectable external contamination in face/neck area • Detectable contamination after shower • Location at the time of incident 1 mile or less from the incident site • First Responders Clean “clothes” provided after shower
Laboratory Prioritization Criteria • Detectable contamination in face/neck area after shower • Presence of open wounds, penetrating injuries, or foreign bodies • Pregnant women and children (<16) • First Responders to the scene who did not wear PPE
Lessons Learned • Use existing resources/infrastructure (e.g. POD model) • “Just-in-time” training effective • Operating more than 1 CRC would be challenging • Forms were generally thought to be understandable and easy to follow • Don’t forget mental health
Issues…What we didn’t test… • Communicating with ICP • Collecting/packaging/transporting bioassays from CRC to lab • Protocols for reporting lab results to individuals • Distribution of radiological countermeasures? • Coordination with health care providers • Information on individuals who were exposed but didn’t go to a CRC
Current/Next Steps • Deliverables in next FY Emergency Preparedness Grant • Continuing collaboration with internal and external partners • Enhance/update plans • Build-out and test CRC in other areas • Rad Volunteers