“PROTECT TEXAS Volunteers” Emergency Public Health Response in Texas

1. “PROTECT TEXAS Volunteers”Emergency Public Health Responsein Texas

2. Volunteers are CRITICALto Rapid Health Emergency Response U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will deliver needed supplies to the site of a medical emergency… it’s up to us to see that supplies quickly reach all those who need help.

3. PUBLIC HEALTH ROLEEmergency Health & Medical Response In a public health emergency in Texas, the Commissioner of Health and State Epidemiologist at the Texas Department of State Health Services will activate a team of local, regional and state health experts who mobilize immediately to • collect and examine evidence, • confirm the nature and scope of health risks, • then determine the appropriate response for protecting Texas.

4. PUBLIC HEALTH ROLEEmergency Health & Medical Response Should a health emergency require a large-scale response, the Texas Governor and state and federal health, emergency management and other officials may request assistance from CDC’s medical cache, known as the Strategic National Stockpile. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) maintains the Strategic National Stockpile – a large cache of medicines and related supplies and equipment, pre-packaged for rapid delivery.

5. CDC SUPPLIESStrategic National Stockpile (SNS) What is SNS? –from U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention: “The SNS is a national repository of antibiotics, chemical antidotes, antitoxins, life-support medications, IV administration, airway maintenance supplies, and medical/surgical items. The SNS is designed to supplement and re-supply state and local public health agencies in the event of a national emergency anywhere and at anytime within the U.S. or its territories.”

6. How Does SNS HelpProtect Texas? CDC works with Texas state, regional and local public health staff to design effective plans for protecting all the people in our state who may need emergency medications to prevent disease. These plans center on rapidly deploying SNS in Texas: getting medicine directly to people, and supplying hospitals with needed pharmaceuticals and related equipment for treating those may become ill.

7. How Do Texans HelpProtect Texas? To make sure these supplies reach people quickly, the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) needs volunteer assistance from health and medical professionals, people with special skills and abilities, and all interested, concerned citizens – People who will work alongside public health staff and others as PROTECT TEXAS Volunteers.

8. PROTECT TEXASVolunteer Program • DSHS Volunteer Program Coordinators organize recruitment, orientation and training activities • In each of the 8 Health Service Regions, and • Within many local health departments • Program Coordinators work routinely with concerned • Health education, emergency management and other experts • Disaster response and other community organizations • City and county officials • Overall coordination of the PROTECT TEXAS Volunteer Program is at the state level of DSHS

9. Texas Department of State Health Services Health Service Regions

10. Mass Medication Dispensing– Greatest Volunteer Need – • There is a critical need for large numbers of volunteers who could help DSHS meet staffing needs for any number of mass medication dispensing sites in an affected area. • We need people who can assist with: • Medical Services • Non-medical Services • Site Support Services • Other Specialized Services • Stress Management

11. Volunteer Roles Medical Services • Nurses • Medical screening, assessment, triage • Doctors • Medical evaluations • Pharmacists • Repackaging, compounding, special needs • “Other” • Dispensing site managers • Mental health counselors (staff & public) • Triage assistants

12. Volunteer Roles Non-Medical Services • Site flow assistants • Interpreters (spoken & sign language) • Health Screening assistants • Forms completion, review, collection • Clerks • Restocking supplies, data entry • Runners • Errands, supplies checks, copying • Multi-purpose, ‘float’ staff • Answer phones, transmit messages

13. Volunteer Roles Site Support Services • Greeters • Welcome the public, distribute forms, share information • Traffic flow, parking direction • Unload distribution trucks • Child care assistance • Facilities maintenance

14. Volunteer Roles Specialized Support Services • Volunteer support • Provide food, other support • Transport volunteers in “surge” • “Special populations” support • Deliver medications to home-bound individuals • Help notify those without media access where to get medicine • Assist those with access needs related to physical disability, literacy, hearing or vision impairment, etc.

15. Can you help? In a public health emergency, we may need THOUSANDS of volunteers in order to reach people quickly – to help save lives and reduce suffering. We recognize that service to your community follows safety for yourself and for your family. And you may already volunteer with a disaster response organization that would serve in such an emergency. PROTECT TEXAS Volunteers provides orientation, training, skills exercises and other resources to support your vital service.

16. Take An Active Role! Please visit our website to apply as a PROTECT TEXAS Volunteer, or indicate your interest in learning more: http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/comprep/protect Thank You!