Always prepared at the MGH

This month, the MGH joins organizations across the country in recognizing National Preparedness Month, a nationwide effort to encourage Americans to take simple steps to prepare for emergencies in their homes, workplaces and schools. MGH Emergency Preparedness encourages all employees to visit intranet.massgeneral.org/emergencypreparedness/ and www.ready.gov/america/npm07/index.html to learn more about preparing for a disaster both at the hospital and at home. Information on the sites includes tips for assembling a home emergency kit and the basic steps to disaster readiness.

 In addition to events like National Preparedness Month, the MGH also participates in a variety of activities — such as disaster drills and tabletop discussions — throughout the year to ensure the hospital and its employees are ready to respond to an emergency at a moment’s notice. Last month, the MGH Charlestown HealthCare Center hosted an Emergency Preparedness Day, educating staff and the local community about the need for emergency planning at home and work. Resources available for visitors included emergency checklists, first aid kits and information about emergency planning for special populations such as the elderly, children and people with special needs. The annual event is part of a comprehensive plan developed by MGH Charlestown and local leaders to promote emergency preparedness throughout the Charlestown community.

For more information about emergency preparedness, contact Craig Cochran, administrative manager for MGH Emergency Preparedness, at ccochran@partners.org.   

From left, Peggy Carolan-Bolognese, administrative director of the MGH Charlestown HealthCare Center, and Tina Wright of the Massachusetts League of Community Health Center.