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A pandemic is a time of chaos. Terror. Disruption.
And we're due for one.
Being prepared is the only way to handle a seemingly uncontrollable situation.
And that was why local media and representatives from both the local health unit and Peterborough emergency services met Wednesday morning to discuss a comprehensive communication plan, just in case.
“We wanted to come up with a communication plan to get this information out there,”said Edwina Gracias, the manager of health protection with the local health unit.
“We want to prepare for a pandemic.”
The plan has been in the works since November 2006, but was highlighted at the meeting so local media could get a sense of what to do in such a case.
While the plan emphasizes what to do during an influenza pandemic, it can also be applied to any large-scale emergency situation, Ms Gracias explained.
“During a pandemic we know that we don't want everyone going to the doctors,” she said, as sometimes the best method is to wait it out, not only to prevent spreading the virus, but to see if home remedies are effective.
Residents would need to know this fact and through the media the message could be spread.
In the plan, information is also classified as health related and non-health related, meaning the health unit would be in charge of anything to do with the health and welfare of the public, and Peterborough City and County Emergency Control groups would be responsible for updating information on the essential services, such as road closures, transit and social services.
There will also be a public inquiry line for both heath and general calls. The City is in charge of the line, which is set-up to handle a large volume of calls.
“There will be trained operators but they will have scripted responses. People can phone for information.”
Scheduled press conferences will also be set up for the media, so the most up-to-date information can be relayed to the public.
“This plan is if a pandemic is happening all over the place.”
While a pandemic may seem unlikely, Ms Gracias warns against thinking it could never happen.
“They (health officials) say we're due for a pandemic. It is going to cause disruption.”
Ms Gracias says the Avian flu, which has killed people in some parts of Asia, may not appear to be much of a threat right now, but if the strain mutates a pandemic is possible. The Avian flu has a 60 per cent mortality rate in humans, she says.
“It has a big impact,” she says.
On May 22, Ms Gracias, along with members of emergency services, will take their plan to the Peterborough Chamber of Commerce to give advice on what businesses should do in case of an outbreak.
“If we have we have so many people off work, this is what will hopefully keep the community going. And the reassurance of the public is so huge. We're working together. We know there is going to be disruption. There will be people that are ill and people that are dying. It is going to be the worse type of experience people with deal with. This is a proactive measure,” she said.
And we're due for one.
Being prepared is the only way to handle a seemingly uncontrollable situation.
And that was why local media and representatives from both the local health unit and Peterborough emergency services met Wednesday morning to discuss a comprehensive communication plan, just in case.
“We wanted to come up with a communication plan to get this information out there,”said Edwina Gracias, the manager of health protection with the local health unit.
“We want to prepare for a pandemic.”
The plan has been in the works since November 2006, but was highlighted at the meeting so local media could get a sense of what to do in such a case.
While the plan emphasizes what to do during an influenza pandemic, it can also be applied to any large-scale emergency situation, Ms Gracias explained.
“During a pandemic we know that we don't want everyone going to the doctors,” she said, as sometimes the best method is to wait it out, not only to prevent spreading the virus, but to see if home remedies are effective.
Residents would need to know this fact and through the media the message could be spread.
In the plan, information is also classified as health related and non-health related, meaning the health unit would be in charge of anything to do with the health and welfare of the public, and Peterborough City and County Emergency Control groups would be responsible for updating information on the essential services, such as road closures, transit and social services.
There will also be a public inquiry line for both heath and general calls. The City is in charge of the line, which is set-up to handle a large volume of calls.
“There will be trained operators but they will have scripted responses. People can phone for information.”
Scheduled press conferences will also be set up for the media, so the most up-to-date information can be relayed to the public.
“This plan is if a pandemic is happening all over the place.”
While a pandemic may seem unlikely, Ms Gracias warns against thinking it could never happen.
“They (health officials) say we're due for a pandemic. It is going to cause disruption.”
Ms Gracias says the Avian flu, which has killed people in some parts of Asia, may not appear to be much of a threat right now, but if the strain mutates a pandemic is possible. The Avian flu has a 60 per cent mortality rate in humans, she says.
“It has a big impact,” she says.
On May 22, Ms Gracias, along with members of emergency services, will take their plan to the Peterborough Chamber of Commerce to give advice on what businesses should do in case of an outbreak.
“If we have we have so many people off work, this is what will hopefully keep the community going. And the reassurance of the public is so huge. We're working together. We know there is going to be disruption. There will be people that are ill and people that are dying. It is going to be the worse type of experience people with deal with. This is a proactive measure,” she said.
