Emergency preparedness exercises held at banks
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Deborah Seng pulled up to a bank drive-through today and left with a better idea of what to do in an public health emergency, such a bioterrorism attack or global pandemic.
She was one of dozens of people who participated an emergency preparedness exercise sponsored by the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health & Wellness that tested the use of bank drive-throughs to deliver medications in emergencies.
"I wanted to be prepared," said Seng, 51, of Portland, turning toward the health workers outside her car window: "Thanks for doing this!"
In the exercise, held at the National City Bank branches at 6511 Preston Highway and 2601 Bank St., workers gave about 200 drivers boxes of raisins representing antibiotics that would be used to treat people in the event of a bioterrorism attack with anthrax.
But health officials said the same distribution method could be used if, for example, swine flu became more virulent in the fall and vaccines or medicines needed to be distributed widely to the public.
"This model is basically adaptable to any number of disasters - natural or man-made," said Bill Wetter, preparedness manager for the local health department.
The exercise is part of the Cities Readiness Initiative of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and Wetter said similar exercises are held throughout the country at different times.
Wetter said the exercises depend on public participation. To encourage that today, the health department held drawings for a flat-screen television at each location and for weather radios and family preparedness backpacks.
Seng said she wasn't there for the chance to win a TV. "The backpack is the one I want," she said.
Wetter said officials had enough supplies for 2,000 cars, and ideally would have liked to "stress the system" with large numbers of participants.
"But the numbers are not as critical as setting up, operating, and lessons learned," Wetter said.
At the Bank Street site, few cars showed up for the first half-hour, but participation picked up as the evening wore on. Mary French of Portland said she decided to attend after receiving an e-mail about it.
"All health matters concern me," she said, adding that it's important to be prepared.
Linda Tillman, 55, of Portland, drove through with her mother, who lives with her. She said she is worried about disaster preparedness, especially in light of the current swine flu outbreak.
"It's really nice they're doing this," Tillman said shortly before driving away. "They needed it."
Reporter Laura Ungar can be reached at (502) 582-7190.
still there is talk of swine flu and it really isn't that bad!
Deborah Seng pulled up to a bank drive-through today and left with a better idea of what to do in an public health emergency, such a bioterrorism attack or global pandemic.
She was one of dozens of people who participated an emergency preparedness exercise sponsored by the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health & Wellness that tested the use of bank drive-throughs to deliver medications in emergencies.
"I wanted to be prepared," said Seng, 51, of Portland, turning toward the health workers outside her car window: "Thanks for doing this!"
In the exercise, held at the National City Bank branches at 6511 Preston Highway and 2601 Bank St., workers gave about 200 drivers boxes of raisins representing antibiotics that would be used to treat people in the event of a bioterrorism attack with anthrax.
But health officials said the same distribution method could be used if, for example, swine flu became more virulent in the fall and vaccines or medicines needed to be distributed widely to the public.
"This model is basically adaptable to any number of disasters - natural or man-made," said Bill Wetter, preparedness manager for the local health department.
The exercise is part of the Cities Readiness Initiative of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and Wetter said similar exercises are held throughout the country at different times.
Wetter said the exercises depend on public participation. To encourage that today, the health department held drawings for a flat-screen television at each location and for weather radios and family preparedness backpacks.
Seng said she wasn't there for the chance to win a TV. "The backpack is the one I want," she said.
Wetter said officials had enough supplies for 2,000 cars, and ideally would have liked to "stress the system" with large numbers of participants.
"But the numbers are not as critical as setting up, operating, and lessons learned," Wetter said.
At the Bank Street site, few cars showed up for the first half-hour, but participation picked up as the evening wore on. Mary French of Portland said she decided to attend after receiving an e-mail about it.
"All health matters concern me," she said, adding that it's important to be prepared.
Linda Tillman, 55, of Portland, drove through with her mother, who lives with her. She said she is worried about disaster preparedness, especially in light of the current swine flu outbreak.
"It's really nice they're doing this," Tillman said shortly before driving away. "They needed it."
Reporter Laura Ungar can be reached at (502) 582-7190.
still there is talk of swine flu and it really isn't that bad!