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Newark, NJ--The possibility of public health emergencies
arising in New Jersey should concern all state residents. The threat
of natural disasters, acts of bioterrorism, emerging diseases and
pandemic influenza makes emergency preparedness a necessity for
individuals and families.
“Some may feel it is impossible to be prepared for
unexpected events, but these preparedness steps help everyone deal
with disasters more effectively,” says John A. Brennan, MD,
Executive Director of Newark Beth Israel Medical Center.
The Saint Barnabas Health Care System (SBHCS) is a recognized
leader in New Jersey's disaster planning. The Center for Healthcare
Preparedness at SBHCS was established to serve as a center of excellence – bringing
together the diverse resources of the System to further education
and research in the field of healthcare disaster readiness. SBHCS
has spent over $4.2 million for a Domestic Preparedness Plan that
includes mobile disaster trailers equipped with decontamination
units, personal protective equipment (PPE), showers and emergency
medical supplies and terrorism education to 20,000 SBHCS employees.
Newark Beth Israel Medical Center and The New Jersey Department
of Health and Senior Services, in collaboration with the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and American Red Cross,
offer the following information on how families and individuals
can prepare for all types of emergencies.
Every family should have an emergency kit to survive in their
house or at a shelter for several days to a week. The emergency
kit includes the basics for survival:
- At least three days worth of water, including one gallon per
person per day
- At least a three-day supply of non-perishable food
- Food and water for pets
- Manual can opener and eating utensils
- Prescription medications, a first aid kit and a first aid manual
- Paper towels, moist towelettes, diapers, toilet paper and garbage
bags
- Personal hygiene items
- Disinfectant
- One blanket, change of clothing and footwear per person
- Extra pairs of glasses and/or contact lenses
- Extra set of keys, a credit card, cash or traveler’s
checks
- Flashlight and extra batteries
- Battery-powered radio and extra batteries
- Matches in a waterproof container
- Important documents like birth certificates placed in waterproof
packaging
Have work and personal cell phone directories of people you may
need to contact. Directories should include relatives (including
those out-of-state), neighbors, physicians, pharmacists, schools
and day care facilities.
- Identify a meeting place for your family near your home and
another outside your neighborhood.
- Pick an out-of-state friend and another who lives near you
as family contacts.
- Develop a contact list for every family member, including work,
school, and cell phone numbers.
- Give your family’s contact information to your family
contacts.
- Post clear directions to your home in a convenient location
in the event you need to call emergency services.
- Show each family member how to turn off water, gas, and electricity.
- Find out how your children’s schools will handle emergency
situations.
- Give the school your contact information, including that of
both your friends.
- Learn how the school will notify you, and how you will meet
your child.
Date: March 26, 2009
Contact: Beth Salamon
Public Relations
Phone: 973.322.4926
esalamon@sbhcs.com
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