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Five things to know about responding to a chemical emergency like the East Palestine, Ohio train derailment
“5 things to know about responding to a chemical emergency like the East Palestine, Ohio train derailment.” | APHL
This article discusses the East Palestine, Ohio train derailment and a system of response. Michigan’s response to a similar event nearly parallels action taken with the exception of the state public health laboratory, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Bureau of Laboratories (MDHHS BOL).
Human exposure to hazardous materials requires analytical test methods only offered by the state public health laboratory. The MDHHS BOL has been a Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Laboratory Response Network-Chemical (LRN-C), Level 1 laboratory since inception of the network in 1999 along with 4 other states, California, Virginia, New Mexico, and New York. The 1995 Presidential Directive 39 initiated a systematic plan to have existing labs work together as an integrated national and international network of laboratories fully equipped to respond quickly to acts of chemical or biological terrorism. The LRN is the result of a coordinated and cooperative effort from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the CDC, and the Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) for emergency response. Currently, the MDHHS BOL is joined by other public health laboratories from 50 states, three major US cities, and one territory. While the laboratories have different operational capabilities and capacities as a three-tiered system of function, the MDHHS BOL has maintained the highest level of operation and monitors chemical exposures at onset, assist local hospitals and first responders with sample triage, can pack and ship laboratory supplies to other network laboratories, and serves the CDC with “surge capacity” for large-scale chemical emergencies.
Biomonitoring, the measurement of specific chemicals in an individual’s body that can assist in identifying trends or regions with higher-than-normal exposure to contaminates, is a valued human health tool utilized to provide data about chemical exposures and inform about necessary public health interventions. The MDHHS BOL has the capability and capacity to analyze samples and provide data for examining chemical exposure trends.
Laboratory resources, capability, and capacity does not come without cost. Funding and support are paramount for continual operational function of this type of laboratory. The MDHHS BOL continues to meet all federal and state requirements for access to adequate funding vital for maintenance of a highly specialized laboratory such as a CDC LRN-C, Level 1, laboratory.
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services supports their commitment toward the health and safety of Michigan citizens and is reflected by qualities and capabilities offered at the Bureau of Laboratories, Michigan’s premiere public health laboratory.
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National Preparedness Month
Discussion-based activities for the whole community
For National Preparedness Month this September 2023, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC's) Office of Readiness and Response (ORR) is launching a series of discussion-based activities to help public health departments develop “whole community” plans that consider the impacts of social determinants of health (SDOH) on personal health preparedness and response.
To help public health departments consider the impacts of SDOH on personal health preparedness and response, ORR created this infographic to help communities decide what topic areas to begin discussions.
What is a Discussion Guide?
A discussion-based activity is like a discussion-based preparedness exercise. It follows a facilitated process for evaluating preparedness and response plans, procedures, partnerships, and planning considerations. Its purpose is to help health departments and communities to: |
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- Better understand how conditions associated with SDOH affect how people prepare for and respond to emergencies.
- Identify gaps in emergency planning, procedures, and partnerships associated with the impacts.
- Think of ways to build new and leverage existing partnerships in the whole community to reduce or remove barriers to personal health preparedness for and response to emergencies.
A discussion-based activity involves an appointed facilitator and invited participants. Participants include traditional response partners, such as public health departments, healthcare systems, and emergency management agencies, and nontraditional support partners, such as community- and faith-based organizations.
The goal of these discussion-based activities is to engage the whole community in efforts to:
- Understand the needs and capabilities of the community.
- Create opportunities and conditions for everyone to prepare for and respond to emergencies to their full potential.
Only by taking a whole community approach can communities improve personal and public health preparedness, response, and resilience.
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National Preparedness Month
Older adults
The Ready Campaign’s 2023 National Preparedness Month theme is “Take Control in 1, 2, 3”. This campaign focuses on preparing older adults, specifically older adults from communities that are disproportionally impacted by the all-hazard events, which continue to threaten the nation.
Older adults can face greater risks when it comes to the multitude of extreme weather events and many other emergencies we now face, especially if they are living alone, are low-income, have a disability, or live in rural areas.
Emergency managers, preparedness coordinators, and all those who work with and support older adult communities, can access more information on the older adult webpage available in English and Spanish languages at Ready.gov/older-adults and Ready.gov/es/adultos-mayores.
For more information on preparing with disabilities visit Ready.gov/disability or Ready.gov/discapacidad in Spanish.
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This resource was developed by the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE) Long COVID-19/Post COVID-19 Conditions (LC/PCC) Workgroup, with input from members, and in collaboration with the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) and the CDC. The CSTE LC/PCC Workgroup members include Robert Orellana, Sr. Epidemiologist.
Respiratory virus season
In case you missed the COCA call from September 19 concerning the upcoming respiratory virus season, the recording has now been posted online:
Preparing for the Upcoming Respiratory Virus Season: Recommendations for Influenza, COVID-19, and RSV Vaccines for Older Adults
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Emergency Broadcast System Test
Mark your calendars. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is conducting a nationwide test of the Emergency Broadcast System to ensure its effectiveness in delivering crucial alerts to the public.
The test will alert cell phones, TVs and radios across the country on Wednesday, Oct. 4 at 2:20 p.m. EST.
The message will read along the lines of: "THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed."
In case of severe weather or other significant events, the test may be postponed to October 11th.
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The Guardian of Public Health is a monthly newsletter from the Bureau of Emergency Preparedness, EMS and Systems of Care (BEPESoC), within the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS). The Guardian aims to provide readers with relevant content on topics that affect the public health of Michigan's citizens and communities.
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This publication was supported by Cooperative Agreement number 1NU90TP922062-01-00, funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the Department of Health and Human Services.
Bureau of Emergency Preparedness, EMS and Systems of Care | 1001 Terminal Rd, Lansing, MI 48906 | 517-335-8150
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