Emergency Communications Toolkit

The tools in this section will help you communicate during an outbreak of anthrax. Coordinate all media contact with your assigned public information staff and follow your agency's emergency communications procedures.

News Releases. These news release templates contain areas to customize with information about:

your location
details about the specific situation
locations of medication or treatment centers
updated case and fatality numbers
quotes from local officials
your contact information.

Important note: These are samples only. Do not use without updating for your specific agency. Some of these templates contain information about symptoms; check with your health officer or medical director to make sure they are accurate for the real-time situation.

News Release: Anthrax confirmed
This news release template was designed to be used when anthrax has been confirmed.

News Release: Medication centers established
This news release template was designed to announce the establishment of medication centers that will distribute medication or vaccines or provide treatment.

News Release: Case/fatality update
This news release template was designed to be used each time the number of confirmed cases and number of fatalities is updated.

News Release: Additional medication centers
This news release template was designed to be used when additional medication centers are opened.

Fact sheets and talking points.

Talking points: Anthrax released in the air
Use this sheet to develop answers to questions you are most likely to hear about the anthrax incident and questions you will need to develop answers for. This sheet has answers specific to anthrax released in the air.
Talking points: Anthrax sent in the mail
Use this sheet to develop answers to questions you are most likely to hear about the anthrax incident and questions you will need to develop answers for. This sheet has answers specific to anthrax sent through the mail.
Fact Sheet: Anthrax
Facts about anthrax: descriptions of the types of agents; symptoms and treatment; special instructions for minimizing your exposure. A Word version of this fact sheet is available in Spanish. (Translations are also available in PDF format in Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Russian and Vietnamese.)
Additional information about anthrax
This is information you can incorporate into new releases, fact sheets and other materials you may produce during the emergency.

Note: Use of these materials is not required. They were developed as resources to help in public health emergency planning and response. Always consult your agency's emergency plans and policies, and follow appropriate Incident Command System procedures.

Questions? We will continue to add resources to this site as they are developed. Please direct questions regarding this site or emergency communication resources to signs@doh.wa.gov.

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Washington State Department of Health
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Olympia, Washington, 98504-7890

Last Update : 07/21/2008 03:31 PM
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