Shiloh
Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: http://www.middletownpress.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=20088759&BRD=1645&PAG=461&dept_id=665530&rfi=6
Emergency drill set to prepare towns for potential flu pandemic
By JEFF MILL, Herald Press Staff
08/24/2008
CROMWELL - The town this fall will once again take part in an emergency drill that doubles as a flu clinic for residents.
Cromwell will join Middletown in holding the one-day drill/clinic on Nov. 5, according to Fred Curtin, the town's emergency management coordinator.
Officials from the two towns held their first planning session for the exercise last week.
The towns cooperated on a similar program last year, Curtin reminded a questioner on Thursday.
The towns will use the exercise as a rehearsal for a possible flu pandemic. To give the drill an extra added air of reality - and do something helpful for a number of residents - volunteers will be bused to Middletown, to the Wesleyan University field house, where they will receive a flu shot.
Only so many people will be able to get the shots, however. Curtin said he will make the information available about how to register to take part in the program as it becomes available.
The residents who do sign up will "meet at Pierson Park, and then board a vehicle and be transported to Middletown to Wesleyan University, where the flu shot will be administered," Curtin said.
"This worked very well when we did it last year," Curtin said. We got great positive feedback from everyone who participated."
Curtin travelled to Middletown City Hall last week for the initial meeting on the program.
"Middletown and Cromwell are doing this together as a joint venture," he explained.
Representatives of the emergency services - police, fire and EMS - from both towns were also at the meeting, he said.
The exercise is part of a regional approach to potential mass-casualty situations, Curtin explained.
"If we ever had to vaccinate, it would have to be given out in a mass quarantine at a POD - a regional 'point of distribution,'" he explained.
In addition to Cromwell and Middletown, Middlefield and Durham are also part of the regional health cooperative.
Emergency drill set to prepare towns for potential flu pandemic
By JEFF MILL, Herald Press Staff
08/24/2008
CROMWELL - The town this fall will once again take part in an emergency drill that doubles as a flu clinic for residents.
Cromwell will join Middletown in holding the one-day drill/clinic on Nov. 5, according to Fred Curtin, the town's emergency management coordinator.
Officials from the two towns held their first planning session for the exercise last week.
The towns cooperated on a similar program last year, Curtin reminded a questioner on Thursday.
The towns will use the exercise as a rehearsal for a possible flu pandemic. To give the drill an extra added air of reality - and do something helpful for a number of residents - volunteers will be bused to Middletown, to the Wesleyan University field house, where they will receive a flu shot.
Only so many people will be able to get the shots, however. Curtin said he will make the information available about how to register to take part in the program as it becomes available.
The residents who do sign up will "meet at Pierson Park, and then board a vehicle and be transported to Middletown to Wesleyan University, where the flu shot will be administered," Curtin said.
"This worked very well when we did it last year," Curtin said. We got great positive feedback from everyone who participated."
Curtin travelled to Middletown City Hall last week for the initial meeting on the program.
"Middletown and Cromwell are doing this together as a joint venture," he explained.
Representatives of the emergency services - police, fire and EMS - from both towns were also at the meeting, he said.
The exercise is part of a regional approach to potential mass-casualty situations, Curtin explained.
"If we ever had to vaccinate, it would have to be given out in a mass quarantine at a POD - a regional 'point of distribution,'" he explained.
In addition to Cromwell and Middletown, Middlefield and Durham are also part of the regional health cooperative.