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On this page: Potential bioterrorism agents | Washington's program | Links to other agencies and organizations | Information hotlines | Suspicious envelopes, packages and powder | Isolation and Quarantine | Specimen packaging

The resources on this page are for local health administrators and healthcare professionals. Resources for the general public are on our General Information page.

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Emergency Resource Guide 46 fact sheets provide information on a variety of preparedness topics. Full guide for download or individual fact sheets in English or translation.

Advancing Emergency Prepardness for Culturally Diverse Communities
A new Web site with useful information developed by the Drexel University School of Public Health

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WAHVE Learn about an opportunity for those with medical skills to volunteer to help during emergencies.

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Psychological and social consequences of emergencies  Links, fact sheets and training opportunities.

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Public Health Emergency Response Guide for State, Local, and Tribal Public Health Directors  A planning resource from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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Pandemic flu planning resources for local government from the Municipal Research and Services Center.

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Calendar of emergency preparedness exercises See our calendar for exercises in your area.

 

Medication Center Signage Web site Complete signage is essential to directing crowd-flow through an emergency medication center. Our signage site offers camera-ready signs and ordering information, translations, planning, placement and set-up tips and other resources.

 

Emergency Communications Toolkit. Tools designed to help public health and system partners with emergency communications planning and response on issues related to the Strategic National Stockpile. Resources on this site include: news release templates for emergency topics from Anthrax to Tularemia, talking points, fact sheets, translations, patient education materials and more.

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Legal Authorities in Public Health Emergencies  A memorandum from the Washington State Office of the Attorney General.

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National Nurse Emergency Preparedness Initiative  Emergency planning and preparedness information for nurses in all work settings.

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Some files on this page require free readers. Download a reader

Potential Bioterrorism Agents – Fact sheets for health professionals

Links to external resources are provided as a public service and do not imply endorsement by the Washington State Department of Health.
 

• Anthrax information for Healthcare Providers or Anthrax Word version
• Anthrax information for Laboratory Personnel or Anthrax Word version
• Distinguishing Influenza from Inhalation Anthrax – from the CDC
• Botulism information for Healthcare Providers
• Plague information for Healthcare Providers
• Smallpox Response Plan and Guidelines – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, November 2002
• Diagnosis of Smallpox – World Health Organization, slide set for clinicians
• Protocol for evaluating patients for smallpox – poster from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for clinicians
• General information about smallpox and Washington State's smallpox program
• Tularemia information for Healthcare Providers

From other agencies:

• Laboratory Information – Testing for agents, biosafety, shipping of samples, communication related to bioterrorism from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Journals of the American Medical Association (JAMA) – Extensive articles about medical and public health management of biological agents
• Infectious Disease Society of America –Technical information about biological agents. Laboratory protocols. Slide sets, images.
• Recommendations for Mail Sorters – An overview of voluntary protection guidelines
• Self care -- A listing of peer-reviewed journal articles on the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration Web site.
• Helping Survivors in the Wake of Disaster -- A fact sheet from the National Center for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Fostering resilience in response to terrorism among primary care providers -- A factsheet from the American Psychological Association.
• Tips for First Responders – Tips on helping seniors and those with disabilities during emergencies from the Center for Development and Disability at the University of New Mexico's Health Science's Center.

Washington's Program

• Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response regions - What they are and where they are
   
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) bioterrorism grants for public health and hospital preparedness. Past grant applications
  • Full Washington State 2006 CDC Grant Application (PDF, 360 k)
  • Summary of 2003-2004 grant applications to CDC and HRSA
  • Full Washington State 2003-2004 CDC and HRSA grant applications
  • 2002-2003 Grant Application
     
• Strategic National Stockpile – Washington's role in the national emergency pharmaceutical distribution plan

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Links

Other Washington State Department of Health Sites

• Office of Emergency Medical and Trauma Prevention – Resources for EMS providers and medical program directors
• Office of Epidemiology
• Office of Radiation Protection –  Radiation-related fact sheets and resources
• Public Health Laboratories
• Office of Drinking Water – Drinking water system security and drinking water emergency guidelines

Local health department Web sites

• Washington State – Local Health Departments/Districts by county

• Bioterrorism Information – Seattle & King County Public Health

• Health Alert Network - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• CDC Public Health Training Network – A series of live satellite and web broadcasts
• Bioterrorism Preparedness – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Disaster Technical Assistance Center -- substance Abuse and Mental Health services Administration Web site.
• Mail Safety - United States Postal Service
• FEMA - Federal Emergency Management Agency
• US Army Medical Research and Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRID)
  • USAMRIID Home page
  • Medical Management of Biological Casualties Handbook

Institutions and Organizations

• American Academy of Pediatrics – Children, terrorism, and disaster
• American Indian Health Commission of Washington State – Tribal emergency preparedness
• Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) – Smallpox vaccination guidance and recommendations
• Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) – Currently featuring a report on state public health emergency preparedness
• Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) – Lots of news and information about bioterrorism, as well as food security, West Nile virus, and pandemic flu.
• Center for Biosecurity - University of Pittsburgh Medical Center – Research
• National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) – Best practices, smallpox, and more
• American Nurse's Association -- Bioterrorism – How to care for patients, how to protect yourself, action alerts, volunteer ooportunities
• Northwest Center for Public Health Practice – University of Washington School of Public Health and Community Medicine -- Bioterrorism training tools
• StatePublicHealth.org  from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO)

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Public Information Telephone Hotlines

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Information Hotlines
Hours: M-F – 5 a.m. – 8 p.m.; Sa-Su – 7 a.m. – 5 p.m. PST
1-888-246-2675 (English)
1-888-246-2857 (Spanish)
1-866-874-2646 (TTY)

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Suspicious Envelopes, Packages and Powders

• Procedures for Suspicious Envelopes, Packages, Powder - A Washington State Information Bulletin.

  • Addendum: Recommended Screening Checklist for First Responders

• Guidance on Initial Responses to a Suspicious Letter/Container – A link to more information from the Centers For Diseases Control and Prevention for information.

Isolation and Quarantine

Specimen Packaging

• Isolation and quarantine – Guidelines and forms
   

• Specimen Packaging and Transport Protocol for Suspected Bioterrorism Incidents - Information from the Washington State Department of Health.

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Last Update : 09/19/2008 04:03 PM
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