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Correctional Facilities Pandemic Influenza Planning Checklist
"Planning for pandemic influenza is critical for ensuring a sustainable health care delivery system within correctional facility settings. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has developed the following checklist to help prison and jail systems to self-assess and improve their preparedness for responding to pandemic influenza. Given the differences among systems, individual facilities should adapt this checklist to meet their unique needs. This checklist should be used as one tool in developing an overall pandemic influenza plan for correctional systems as well as individual facilities. Responsible officials should incorporate information from State, regional and local health departments and emergency management agencies/authorities into the system and individual facility pandemic influenza plan. An additional benefit of this planning is that it can be used for other types of disaster preparedness."
United States. Department of Health and Human Services
2007-09-04
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Law Enforcement Pandemic Influenza Planning Checklist
"In the event of pandemic influenza, law enforcement agencies (e.g., State, local, and tribal Police Departments, Sheriff's Offices, Federal law enforcement officers, special jurisdiction police personnel) will play a critical role in maintaining the rule of law as well as protecting the health and safety of citizens in their respective jurisdictions. Planning for pandemic influenza is critical. [...] The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has developed the following checklist for law enforcement agencies. This checklist provides a general framework for developing a pandemic influenza plan. Each agency or organization will need to adapt this checklist according to its unique needs and circumstances. The key planning activities in this checklist are meant to complement and enhance your existing all-hazards emergency and operational continuity plans. Many of the activities identified in this checklist will also help you to prepare for other kinds of public health emergencies."
United States. Department of Health and Human Services
2007-09-02
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Interim Public Health Guidance for the Use of Facemasks and Respirators in Non-Occupational Community Settings during an Influenza Pandemic
"This document describes interim guidance for the use of facemasks and respirators in certain public settings during an influenza pandemic. Very little information is available about the effectiveness of facemasks and respirators in controlling the spread of pandemic influenza in community settings. In the absence of scientific data, this document offers interim recommendations that are based on public health judgment and on the historical use of facemasks and respirators in other settings. In brief, these interim recommendations advise the following: (1) Whenever possible, rather than relying on the use of facemasks or respirators, close contact and crowded conditions should be avoided during an influenza pandemic. (2) Facemasks should be considered for use by individuals who enter crowded settings, both to protect their nose and mouth from other people's coughs and to reduce the wearers' likelihood of coughing on others. The time spent in crowded settings should be as short as possible. (3) Respirators should be considered for use by individuals for whom close contact with an infectious person is unavoidable. This can include selected individuals who must take care of a sick person (e.g., family member with a respiratory infection) at home. Facemasks and respirators should be used in combination with other preventive measures, such as hand hygiene and social distancing, to help reduce the risk for influenza infection during a pandemic. This interim guidance will be updated as new information becomes available."
United States. Department of Health and Human Services
2007-05
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[National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza] Implementation Plan Three Year Summary
"This Three Year Summary provides a historical record to report the Federal Government's progress in addressing actions due to be completed within 36 months of the initial release of the Implementation Plan and reflects that progress as of April 30, 2009. Although the closely-monitored H5N1 influenza strain did not evolve into a human pandemic strain over those three years, a different influenza virus caused a pandemic in 2009. In late April 2009, human outbreaks associated with a novel influenza virus, 2009 H1N1 Influenza A, were confirmed in Mexico and the United States. On June 11, 2009, the WHO officially declared an influenza pandemic and raised its pandemic alert phase to 6. Fortunately, however, the characteristics of 2009 H1N1 influenza virus have not caused the economic or societal interruptions anticipated in the Implementation Plan and its actions. 2009 H1N1 disease severity has been generally similar to what is seen during regular influenza seasons (although different age groups have been predominantly affected, with most cases, and most severe cases, occurring in older children and adults less than 65 years of age)."
United States. Department of Health and Human Services
2010
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Emergency Medical Service and Non-Emergent (Medical) Transport Organizations Pandemic Influenza Planning Checklist
This checklist developed by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is geared towards helping "emergency medical services (EMS) and non-emergent (medical) transport organizations assess and improve their preparedness for responding to pandemic influenza. EMS organizations will be involved in the transport of acutely ill patients with known or suspected pandemic influenza to emergency departments; some of these patients might require mechanical ventilation for life support and/or other lifesaving interventions. Non-emergent (medical) transport organizations will be called upon to transport recovering pandemic influenza patients to their home, residential care facility, or possibly to alternate care sites set up by state or local health departments. [...] This checklist identifies key areas for pandemic influenza planning. EMS and non-emergent (medical) transport organizations can use this tool to self-assess and identify the strengths and weakness of current planning. Links to websites with information are provided throughout the document. However, actively seeking information that is available locally or at the state level will be necessary to complete the development of the plan. Also, for some elements of the plan (e.g., education and training programs), information may not be immediately available and monitoring of selected websites for new and updated information will be necessary."
United States. Department of Health and Human Services
2006-03-01
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Considerations for Antiviral Drug Stockpiling by Employers in Preparation for an Influenza Pandemic
"Optimal planning and preparation for an influenza pandemic requires coordinated efforts by every part of society including individuals and families, communities, employers in public and private sectors, and all levels of government. Federal, State, and local governments will implement strategies to protect the public in an influenza pandemic. Employers also will play a key role in protecting employees' health and safety, thereby limiting pandemic impacts on health, the economy, and society. As part of their comprehensive pandemic planning, some employers (from public and private sectors) have asked for guidance about whether they should stockpile or otherwise arrange for influenza antiviral drugs to be available for their employees during a pandemic. Private stockpiles, in coordination with public health stockpiles, would extend protection more broadly than could be achieved through the public sector alone and improve the ability to achieve the national pandemic response goals of mitigating disease, suffering, and death, and minimizing impacts on the economy and functioning of society. The Federal Government strongly encourages all public and private sector employers, regardless of size, to plan for a pandemic, to protect the health of employees and assure continuity of operations. Influenza antiviral drugs (antivirals) are one of several approaches to protecting people during a pandemic and can serve as an important part of a layered approach to pandemic mitigation. In some cases, employees whose jobs would normally involve very high or high exposure risk to known/suspected pandemic patients may reduce or eliminate exposure through engineering, administrative and work practice strategies."
United States. Department of Health and Human Services
2008
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Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act (Public Law 109-417): Progress Report [November 2007]
This Progress Report published by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) "highlights some of the major activities that the Department has undertaken since the enactment of PAHPA (Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act). It also includes a preview of the Way Forward -- activities the Department plans as it moves ahead to continue implementing the legislation. The Report is divided into eight sections, each of which addresses a major program area under PAHPA. [...] This document represents a snapshot of current progress and the Department's plans for the immediate future; it is not meant to be a comprehensive overview of all aspects of the legislation. HHS recognizes that the implementation of a major piece of legislation like PAHPA is an iterative process and, as such, it requires ongoing evaluation and consultation. The Department continues to welcome the input of stakeholders and partners as it moves forward towards achieving our common goals. [...] In December 2006 Congress passed and the President signed the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA), Public Law No. 109-417, which has broad implications for HHS's preparedness and response activities. The Act established within the Department a new Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR); provided new authorities for a number of programs, including the advanced development and acquisition of medical countermeasures; and called for the establishment of a quadrennial National Health Security Strategy."
United States. Department of Health and Human Services
2007-11
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Public Health Implications of Great Lakes Areas of Concern (AOC)
"This report was developed by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) in response to a request by the International Joint Commission (IJC) regarding the public health implications of hazardous substances found at the U.S. Areas of Concern (AOCs). This report should not be construed as a traditional analytic epidemiologic evaluation. Instead, it should be viewed as an assessment to identify the co-occurrence of elevated patterns of morbidity and mortality and environmental contamination that may merit further hypothesis-based epidemiologic study. Despite limitations, this report provides a comprehensive evaluation of patterns of environmental contamination and the demographics of vulnerable populations in the 26 AOCs."
United States. Department of Health and Human Services
2007
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Guidance: Potassium Iodide as a Thyroid Blocking Agent in Radiation Emergencies
"The objective of this document is to provide guidance to other Federal agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), and to state and local governments regarding the safe and effective use of potassium iodide (KI) as an adjunct to other public health protective measures in the event that radioactive iodine is released into the environment. The adoption and implementation of these recommendations are at the discretion of the state and local governments responsible for developing regional emergency response plans related to radiation emergencies. This guidance updates the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 1982 recommendations for the use of KI to reduce the risk of thyroid cancer in radiation emergencies involving the release of radioactive iodine. The recommendations in this guidance address KI dosage and the projected radiation exposure at which the drug should be used."
United States. Department of Health and Human Services
2001-12
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Pandemic Influenza Planning: A Guide for Individuals and Families
"This guide is designed to help [individuals] understand the threat of a pandemic influenza outbreak […] It describes commonsense actions […] in preparing for a pandemic." The guide provides information on pandemic influenza, on planning for the disruption of essential services in the event of an outbreak, on being prepared for the disruption of food and water supplies, and on the disruption of medical care. The guide also provides information on vaccinations and antivirals as well as preparedness checklists and forms and resources for further information.
United States. Department of Health and Human Services
2006-05
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Assessment of States' Operating Plans to Combat Pandemic Influenza: Report to Homeland Security Council
"This report summarizes the status of States' operating plans with respect to preparedness for, response to, and recovery from an influenza pandemic. This assessment fulfills a requirement (Action #6.1.1.2) established by the Homeland Security Council, Executive Office of the President of the United States, in its National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza: Implementation Plan. [...] We are pleased to submit this summary report on States' operating plans for combating pandemic influenza. Three pandemics occurred during the Twentieth Century-one, in 1918/19, with catastrophic health and socio-economic consequences. The pandemic threat is real and continuing, irrespective of how much the perception of the threat may wax or wane over time. Therefore, if we are to counter the next pandemic effectively, we must prepare now. This assessment process has done much to increase understanding by State and Federal Government officials alike as to the demands that an influenza pandemic would place upon them. We are grateful to the Working Group from the participating U.S. Government Departments as well as to their State counterparts for undertaking the arduous efforts that this assessment required. Whatever forms future plans and assessments may take, the health and socio-economic well being of the Nation will be well served by a collective commitment to continuous quality improvement in preparing for, responding to, and recovering from an influenza pandemic."
United States. Department of Health and Human Services
2009-01
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Partnerships in Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Recovery: Role of Faith-Based and Community Organizations in Building Resilient Communities
"In January 2007, the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives launched a series of monthly Compassion in Action Roundtable meetings to highlight organizations, programs, and policies addressing critical social needs. The Roundtables convene and facilitate discussion among policymakers, government officials, philanthropists, and faith-based and community service providers around targeted issues. [...] The following report offers an overview of the May 2008 Compassion in Action Roundtable, entitled Partnerships in Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Recovery: The Role of Faith-Based and Community Organizations in Building Resilient Communities. Please note the statistical information presented throughout the report reflects data available up to the time of Roundtable, and excludes any data collected after May 2008."
United States. Department of Health and Human Services
2008-05-19
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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Pandemic Planning Update IV, A Report from Secretary Michael O. Leavitt [July 18, 2007]
This Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) report provides an update on pandemic planning for among other challenges as the H5N1 virus. The report also has information on monitoring and surveillance, vaccines and vaccine production capacity, antiviral drugs, state and local preparedness, and communications. "HHS has worked closely with Federal, State, tribal, and territorial communications specialists to develop plans that will help guide the public, the news media, health care providers, and other groups to respond appropriately in outbreak situations and to encourage people to follow the necessary public health measures. A government-wide public health emergency communications plan is now ready to activate in the event of a pandemic."
United States. Department of Health and Human Services
Leavitt, Michael O.
2007-07-18
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Electronic Media and Youth Violence: A CDC Issue Brief for Educators and Caregivers
This Issue Brief focuses on the phenomena of electronic aggression. Electronic aggression is defined as any kind of harassment or bullying that occurs through email, chat rooms, instant messaging, websites, blogs, or text messaging. The brief summarizes what is known about young people and electronic aggression, provides strategies for addressing the issue with young people, and discusses the implications for school staff, education policy makers, and parents and caregivers.
United States. Department of Health and Human Services
2008
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Interim Implementation Guide for the National Health Security Strategy of the Unites States of America
The Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA) was enacted in 2006 to improve the Nation's ability to detect, prepare for, and respond to a variety of public health emergencies. Among other things, PAHPA directs the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to develop a National Health Security Strategy (NHSS), to be initially presented to Congress in 2009 and subsequently revised every four years afterward. […] This Interim Implementation Guide describes initial implementation activities, most of which are already under way, that will take place during the nine month period from January 2010 through September 2010 and provides a foundation for developing a more comprehensive Biennial Implementation Plan. The initial nine-month planning period will allow for coordination with ongoing planning by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), including completion of the next round of revisions to the Target Capabilities List (TCL), revision of Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSPD) 8, and the development of workforce competencies for all sectors involved in national health security.
United States. Department of Health and Human Services
2009-12
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Terrorism and Other Public Health Emergencies: A Field Guide for Media
"The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) created this guide to provide the most important information that media professionals might need in the field while covering a terrorist attack or other public health emergency. This guide was developed by HHS' Office of the Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs as a compact companion to a more comprehensive guide on these topics, called 'Terrorism and Other Public Health Emergencies: A Reference Guide for Media.' This field guide is mainly aimed towards individual reporters, but may also be useful for newsroom managers and other media professionals. These guides were created specifically to fill the void of expert-reviewed and approved information about terrorist agents and the public health system focusing on the unique needs posed by extreme public health emergencies. Resources dealing with natural disasters and related issues already exist in many forums. Just the same, many of the new programs and resources described in this field guide--and more fully in the media reference guide--are relevant to all public health emergencies including natural disasters. So, we hope this guide will be useful to you in a wide variety of emergencies."
United States. Department of Health and Human Services
2006-06
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Mass Evacuation Transportation Planning Model [archive]
This website contains a mass evacuation transportation planning model. "This model estimates the time required to evacuate patients in healthcare facilities and transport them to receiving facilities. To begin, click the 'New Scenario' button. Then fill out the data elements on the Scenario Input Page, including the characteristics of the vehicles used, characteristics of the evacuating and receiving hospitals, and other factors that affect travel time."
United States. Department of Health and Human Services
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Public Health Emergency Medical Countermeasures Enterprise Review Fact Sheet
The Department of Health and Human Services examined the U.S. government's system to produce medications, vaccines, equipment and supplies needed for a health emergency. The subsequent report, "Public Health Emergency Medical Countermeasures Enterprise Review: Transforming the Enterprise to Meet Long Range National Needs," reviewed the process and provided recommendations for a better approach to these medical countermeasures (MCMs). This fact sheet provides a brief overview of the key findings and recommendations of that report.
United States. Department of Health and Human Services
2010
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Public Health Emergency Medical Countermeasures Enterprise Review: Transforming the Enterprise to Meet Long-Range National Needs
The Department of Health and Human Services examined the U.S. government's system to produce medications, vaccines, equipment and supplies needed for a health emergency. This report reviews the process and provides recommendations for a better approach to these medical countermeasures (MCMs). It provides a background, discusses key attributes of a forward-looking strategy and key findings, and gives recommendations for optimizing the All-Hazards Medical Countermeasures Enterprise. The report concludes that "the MCM enterprise needs to institute significant structural and program changes to develop a more robust, aggressive, forward-looking and transformational approach to providing these products. It requires the science and research community to create and transition more candidate MCMs and flexible platform technologies that are poised for successful adoption by advanced product developers.
United States. Department of Health and Human Services
2010-08
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National Vaccine Advisory Committee: Reports, Recommendations, Resolutions
This webpage from the Department of Health and Human Services provides links to reports and other helpful resources about the H1N1 virus, Hepatitis A and B, influenza preparedness, and information on immunizations, from the years 1989 to 2012. From the webpage: "The NVAC [National Vaccine Advisory Committee] serves in an advisory role to the Assistant Secretary for Health, within the United States Department of Health and Human Services. Thus, the recommendations listed below have been formally transmitted to the Assistant Secretary for Health for his consideration, which may include communication with various components of the Department and other interested parties."
United States. Department of Health and Human Services
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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Radiological Dispersal Device Playbook
"The purpose of this playbook is to provide guidance for executive decision makers within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in the event of an actual radiological terrorist attack in a U.S. city. Specifically, it outlines key measures and options to aid the Secretary in making essential decisions and directing the HHS response to a radiological attack. The playbook functions as a resource document to the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) to assist in coordinating the Department's Emergency Support Function (ESF #8) with other Federal and local emergency support agencies. It is not intended to serve as an instruction manual for implementing the ESF #8 missions at the operational or tactical level; rather, it illustrates the capabilities required to meet probable mission requirements. This playbook is a living document that must be updated periodically to reflect evolving processes and policy decisions including changes resulting from interagency plans or policies. ASPR is responsible for managing this process of bringing the playbooks up to date."
United States. Department of Health and Human Services
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Radiation Emergency Medical Management [website]
"[Radiation Emergency Medical Management] REMM was produced by the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, Office of Planning and Emergency Operations, in cooperation with the National Library of Medicine, Division of Specialized Information Services, with subject matter experts from the National Cancer Institute, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and many US and international consultants." The goals of this site are to: "Provide guidance for health care providers, primarily physicians, about clinical diagnosis and treatment of radiation injury during radiological and nuclear emergencies; Provide just-in-time, evidence-based, usable information with sufficient background and context to make complex issues understandable to those without formal radiation medicine expertise; [and] Provide web-based information that is also downloadable in advance, so that it would be available during an emergency if the internet is not accessible"
United States. Department of Health and Human Services
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Optimizing Industrial Involvement with Medical Countermeasure Development: A Report of the National Biodefense Science Board
This document concludes that the U.S. government needs to collaborate much closer with private industry "to improve the nation's medical defenses against biological, chemical, radiological, and nuclear threats." The report lists the following as top-priority threats: "anthrax, botulism, filoviruses (Ebola and Marburg), glanders and meliodosis, Junin virus, plague, smallpox, tularemia, typhus, radiological and nuclear threats, and volatile nerve agents" and concludes with the following 8 specific recommendations to the U.S. government: "to harness the national industrial base, the U.S. Congress and the Executive Branch must provide adequate, consistent funding; the U.S. Government must accelerate the pace of MCM [medical countermeasures] development; the U.S. Government must centralize its leadership for MCM development and acquisition, and optimize distribution methods; the U.S. Government must demonstrate long-term commitment to its industry collaborators; the U.S. Government must create, sustain, and enhance innovative partnerships with private industry; the U.S. Government should expand MCM markets to include state and local first-responders and allied governments; the U.S. Government must do a better job of preparing for anticipatable emergencies; and various departments and agencies of the U.S. Government must act in concert to ensure success."
United States. Department of Health and Human Services
2010-02-04
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Safeguarding Communities from Chemical Exposures
"Environmental factors contribute to more than 25%of all diseases worldwide. In the United States, the yearly cost of just four childhood health problems linked to chemical exposures--lead poisoning, asthma, cancer, and developmental disabilities--is greater than $54 billion. Chemical exposures occur in homes, schools, workplaces, and throughout communities. Accidental releases, certain household products ,or hazardous sites are all possible causes of chemical exposures. Exposures that occur in the community may be difficult to identify and control. The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) works to safeguard communities from chemical exposures. ATSDR investigates community exposures related to chemical sites and releases; works closely with federal, tribal, state, and local agencies to identify potential exposures; assesses associated health effects; and recommends actions to stop, prevent, or minimize these harmful effects. Many times, exposures occurred in the past and are difficult to evaluate. ATSDR scientists can estimate exposures based on previous similar situations (called modeling), test individuals in the area to determine whether exposures have occurred (bio-monitoring), and use cutting edge technology to understand these exposures. State of the art assessment methods-such as new sampling techniques and cancer modeling--help ATSDR evaluate the health effects of emerging contaminants such as perfluorochemicals".
United States. Department of Health and Human Services
2009
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Guidance on Antiviral Drug Use During an Influenza Pandemic
"The use of prescription antiviral drugs to treat and prevent infection will be an important component of a pandemic influenza response. While current antiviral drug use strategies and publicly maintained stockpiles are targeted primarily for treatment of persons with pandemic illness, expanded antiviral drug production has allowed additional strategies to be considered. An interagency working group, with input from representatives of State, local and tribal public health agencies, considered scientific issues, ethics and values, and perspectives of stakeholders in developing draft guidance on antiviral use strategies and stockpiling. The antiviral drug use guidance in this document replaces the recommendations developed in 2005 which are published as part of the Department of Health and Human Service's (HHS's) pandemic influenza plan. As guidance, this document does not create a requirement; rather, it defines a prudent strategy for antiviral drug stockpiling and use that can contribute to a more effective pandemic response. The guidance on antiviral use is based on the national pandemic response goals of slowing the spread of pandemic disease, reducing impacts on health, and minimizing societal and economic disruption."
United States. Department of Health and Human Services
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Chlordane (C10 H6 Cl8) Chemical Protocol
Very comprehensive description of the chemical agent, with coverage on many important aspects, including information on routes of exposure, sources and uses, exposure limits, physical characteristics, patient management, decontamination and treatment, incident reporting. Synonyms include a wide variety of trade names: Chlordan, Chlor-Kil, CD-68, Octachlor, Termi-Ded,
Toxichlor, Topichlor, and Velsicol 1068.
United States. Department of Health and Human Services
2000
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Carbon Disulfide (CS2) Chemical Protocol
Very comprehensive description of the chemical agent, with coverage on many important aspects, including information on routes of exposure, sources and uses, exposure limits, physical characteristics, patient management, decontamination and treatment, incident reporting. Synonyms include carbon bisulfide, carbon sulfide, and dithiocarbonic anhydride.
United States. Department of Health and Human Services
2000
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Crotonaldehyde (C4 H6 O) Chemical Protocol
Very comprehensive description of the chemical agent, with coverage on many important aspects, including information on routes of exposure, sources and uses, exposure limits, physical characteristics, patient management, decontamination and treatment, incident reporting. Synonyms include beta-methylacrolein; propylene aldehyde; ethylene propionate; crotonic aldehyde; but-2-enal; 2-butenal; crotonal; topanel; methyl acrolein; butenal; crotonaldehyde inhibited; (E)-crotonaldehyde;
(E)-2-butenal; trans-2-butenal.
United States. Department of Health and Human Services
2000
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Chlorine (Cl2) Chemical Protocol
Very comprehensive description of the chemical agent, with coverage on many important aspects, including information on routes of exposure, sources and uses, exposure limits, physical characteristics, patient management, decontamination and treatment, incident reporting. Synonyms include molecular chlorine.
United States. Department of Health and Human Services
2000
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Diborane (B2 H6) Chemical Protocol
Very comprehensive description of the chemical agent, with coverage on many important aspects, including information on routes of exposure, sources and uses, exposure limits, physical characteristics, patient management, decontamination and treatment, incident reporting. Synonyms include boroethane, boron hydride, diboron hexahydride.
United States. Department of Health and Human Services
2000
