August 4, 2006

"Be Ready: Prepare to Respond" campaign kicks off

The MGH's Emergency Preparedness (EP) program launched the "Be Ready: Prepare to Respond" campaign by hosting an information table in the Main Corridor July 19. The goal of the new campaign is to raise awareness about the MGH EP program and to educate employees, patients and visitors about the importance of preparing for a disaster by having an emergency plan at work and home. Patrons had the opportunity to enter a raffle to win a basic emergency kit by completing a quiz about emergency preparedness. The emergency kit included items such as bottled water, a first-aid kit, non-perishable food and a portable radio. Of the 600 plus raffle entries, Catherine Chase of the MGH Transplant Surgery Lab, and Matt Stevens of MGH Police and Security, were the winners.

Staff at the table offered pamphlets about preparing for disasters from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Handouts included information about how to speak to children about disasters and insight on preparing the elderly and people with special needs for emergencies. Reference guides for employees outlined tips, protocols and emergency terminology for responding at the MGH. The staff also provided information about the Massachusetts System for Advance Registration (MSAR), a database of pre-credentialed volunteer health care professionals that the state can mobilize during a public health emergency.

Under the guidance of the Emergency Preparedness Committee, the EP program develops and maintains all emergency management plans that address various threats including biological events, disease pandemics, natural disasters and hazardous materials. The committee also is in charge of implementing emergency drills on a regular basis to test the hospital's EP plans and response capabilities.

For more information about volunteering for MSAR, visit www.mass.gov/msar.
To learn more about the MGH's EP program, contact Craig Cochran, EP administrative manager, at ccochran@partners.org or visit the new MGH EP web page at intranet.massgeneral.org/emergencypreparedness.

MGHers staff the EP information table