2008 Woodie Awards
Campus, Community Warned About Importance of Flu Preparedness
Dominic Godfrey/Muleskinner
Issue date: 10/5/06 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
Faculty and staff at UCM are exploring the proper paths to take in the event of a pandemic flu.
The Institute for Rural Emergency Management (IREM) showed a satellite broadcast entitled "Pandemic Flu Preparedness: What Every Community Should Know" on campus friday.
IREM was created in 2005 to help rural areas prepare for crises and emergencies, said Dianna Bryant, executive director.
Bryant said while bigger cities may have plans and funding for a pandemic, rural areas like Warrensburg, are not always prepared.
"Flu is a roll of the dice," Bryant said. "It could be nothing, it could be big."
Flu strains are different every year, Bryant said, and vaccinations do not always properly prevent the illness. If an outbreak did occur, it is unlikely enough vaccinations would be available, since they are created to only account for a certain percentage of the population.
Bryant said the public is unaware of the potential hazards of a pandemic flu. In extreme cases, she said schools and businesses would be forced to close, as well as grocery and other stores. She also said emergency workers and doctors would have to be quarantined because they are at a level of high-risk. There wouldalmost be a hierarchy of who would receive the vaccinations.
Bryant said the best way to prevent the flu virus is to wash hands. The best way to educate the public is to stress the importance of being ready in case of a pandemic.
"The level of preparedness is not very high. It comes down to the individual," Bryant said.
One reason Bryant said she believes the public is nonchalant about a pandemic flu is because of what she calls a "boy who cried wolf" effect. She said scares around severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and the bird flu have desensitized the public into thinking pandemics are not major circumstances.
"Every business and organization needs to think about how they will act if there is an event," Bryant said.
The Health Center has been working on ways to make sure adequate information and health care could be provided to students should a pandemic occur.
Becky Steckel, R.N., is the head of a group working to assist administrators on this topic.
"[The main goal is] to educate the staff, faculty and students on an ongoing basis because education is important," Steckel said. "This is not a one time attempt for the Health Center to introduce this matter but something that should be continuously monitored by everyone." Students in the crisis and disaster management program participate in mock events, practicing their routine if a pandemic were to occur.
The Institute for Rural Emergency Management (IREM) showed a satellite broadcast entitled "Pandemic Flu Preparedness: What Every Community Should Know" on campus friday.
IREM was created in 2005 to help rural areas prepare for crises and emergencies, said Dianna Bryant, executive director.
Bryant said while bigger cities may have plans and funding for a pandemic, rural areas like Warrensburg, are not always prepared.
"Flu is a roll of the dice," Bryant said. "It could be nothing, it could be big."
Flu strains are different every year, Bryant said, and vaccinations do not always properly prevent the illness. If an outbreak did occur, it is unlikely enough vaccinations would be available, since they are created to only account for a certain percentage of the population.
Bryant said the public is unaware of the potential hazards of a pandemic flu. In extreme cases, she said schools and businesses would be forced to close, as well as grocery and other stores. She also said emergency workers and doctors would have to be quarantined because they are at a level of high-risk. There wouldalmost be a hierarchy of who would receive the vaccinations.
Bryant said the best way to prevent the flu virus is to wash hands. The best way to educate the public is to stress the importance of being ready in case of a pandemic.
"The level of preparedness is not very high. It comes down to the individual," Bryant said.
One reason Bryant said she believes the public is nonchalant about a pandemic flu is because of what she calls a "boy who cried wolf" effect. She said scares around severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and the bird flu have desensitized the public into thinking pandemics are not major circumstances.
"Every business and organization needs to think about how they will act if there is an event," Bryant said.
The Health Center has been working on ways to make sure adequate information and health care could be provided to students should a pandemic occur.
Becky Steckel, R.N., is the head of a group working to assist administrators on this topic.
"[The main goal is] to educate the staff, faculty and students on an ongoing basis because education is important," Steckel said. "This is not a one time attempt for the Health Center to introduce this matter but something that should be continuously monitored by everyone." Students in the crisis and disaster management program participate in mock events, practicing their routine if a pandemic were to occur.
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