Knox Co., TN: Help sought for drive-through drill

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2008/jun/28/help-sought-for-drive-through-drill/

Help sought for drive-through drill

By Kristi L. Nelson (Contact)
Saturday, June 28, 2008

Got plans for Monday afternoon? If not, taking a little time to participate in the Knox County Health Department's drive-through drill could win you a tank of gas.

The health department is testing a drive-through method for quickly dispensing medication to large groups of people in case of a communitywide emergency - say, an anthrax attack or an outbreak of a serious and contagious virus. Officials are hoping at least 500 cars and at least 1,500 community members will participate in the drill, which is 1-3 p.m. Monday at Karns High School, 2710 Byington-Solway Road.

To thank participants, the health department will give every 100th car a $50 gas card, and all who come through the line will be registered to win a $250 gas card. The first 500 participants will get coupons for free Icee drinks. All prizes were donated by Pilot Oil Co.

Cars coming through the drill will go through six stops that officials hope are short ones, said Larry Hutsell, KCHD emergency response coordinator. Participants will be given a card and asked to "role-play" the scenario on the card as they go through the drill, which would be similar to using a fast-food drive-through.

"We need to find out how long it's going to take" people to go through the different stations, Hutsell said.

Health officials from all over the state and possibly from surrounding states will be on hand to observe the drill, the first done in Tennessee. The drive-through "Point of Dispensing" concept is a new one, and the drill is the result of several months of planning.

"These types of exercises have real-life implications," said KCHD Director Mark Jones.

A step-by-step list of what to expect at the drill is available at www.knoxcounty.org/health. Jones said public participation is critical to helping the health department prepare for a public-health emergency.

"We really think of this as the community helping us help them," said health department spokeswoman Ranee Randby.

Health writer Kristi L. Nelson may be reached at 865-342-6434.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Knox Co., TN: Help sought for drive-through drill

Source: http://www.volunteertv.com/home/headlines/22736439.html#

Knox County Health Department conducts drive-through drill

(Note: there is video showing the exercise. Use the link above to access it.)

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) -- If there was a large scale anthrax outbreak in the Knoxville region, would the Knox County Health Department be prepared to treat you? That was the purpose of a first-of-its-kind drill conducted Monday.

The test at Karns High School was a first in Tennessee.

Volunteers drove to the school to see how efficient Knox County Health Department workers were at evaluating conditions and dispensing medicines to keep them safe.

After a pretend anthrax exposure at Knoxville's Civic Coliseum during an event, a few hundred people participated in a drill to test a drive through way to get well.

Participants knew only the barebones of why they had driven to Karns High School.

Drill Volunteer Margie Nelson says, "Anthrax was released at the civic center and I was there so I've got to be treated."

Drill participant Susan Cobb says in the mock situation, nothing has happened to her, ?This is just to make sure I don't get it."

So the volunteers were told where to go.

At the first station, they filled out their paperwork. Then they received medication to fight the anthrax exposure at the second station.

Public Health Director of Nursing John Lott says, "This is the first time in Tennessee that a drive thru pod has been conducted and as it just is an exercise we're trying to make sure we work out all the kinks."

Health officials believe this may very well be the best way in dealing with such a crisis when five thousand people could be exposed to such a deadly toxin.

Lott says, "They can just drive right through. We can do the evaluation and dispense the medication."

Knox County Public Health Officer Dr. Martha Buchanan says, "This is just a bigger version of the drive thru, especially with antibiotics. You know, we're not giving you a shot. You don't have to roll up your sleeve or anything else to get an antibiotic."

In these days of terrorism, Dr. Buchanan feels the drive thru method of dispensing drugs could be a powerful tool against it, and it's been tested before.

Dr. Buchanan says, "Communities have used this for flu vaccine. There are communities that have done drive thru flu vaccines."

The question now is how well did the drill do in trying to help so many people?

The Health Department will try to figure out what went well, what didn't, and what they need to do to better the process for the future.

 

[fab4]

Re: Knox Co., TN: Help sought for drive-through drill

They would do well to talk to people in fast food and and get ideas how they get people through so quickly (over 100/hours in some places) Using the headset would be useful - before the person came to the window, you could have everything ready

 

[JJackson]

Re: Knox Co., TN: Help sought for drive-through drill

Also need to factor in how much slower it would be if you needed to protect the workers in an infectious disease scenario.

Are toll booths common in the US? These seem eminently suitable for this kind of job.