The Bioterrorism Preparedness Team (BT Team) of the Memphis and Shelby County Health Department is calling for volunteers to assist in the event of a Bioterrorism (BT) emergency.
The Bioterrorism Preparedness Team (BT Team) of the Memphis and Shelby County Health Department is calling for volunteers to assist in the event of a Bioterrorism (BT) emergency.
The Health Department has formulated a plan that will enable the entire population of Memphis and Shelby County to be voluntarily immunized against smallpox in a ten-day period if necessary.
“To successfully accomplish this, we will need approximately 18 clinics community-wide, each serving 5,900 patients per day,” said Yvonne S. Madlock, Director of the Memphis and Shelby County Health Department. “More than 4,000 volunteers per day will be needed to staff these clinics.”
Although many Shelby County healthcare professionals have already responded to the call for volunteers, there is still a need for the following individuals: clerical/secretarial staff, data entry/medical records personnel, individuals for traffic control and parking, translators (multiple languages including sign language), emergency medical technicians, and individuals for crowd control.
All volunteers will receive a basic two-hour orientation and training. Clinical volunteers will receive additional training appropriate to their assigned task.
If you would like more information on volunteering, you may log on to www.shelbybtvolunteers.org or call the Community Development/Health Planning Office of the Memphis and Shelby County Health Department at 901-725-4687.
Bioterrorism Preparedness Websites
From the Center for Disease Control, there is a site for information on biological, chemical, and radiation exposure management: www.bt.cdc.gov
From ASM there is a Compendium of Resources on bioterrorism: www.asmusa.org/pasrc/bioprep.htm
Also, from ASM there is a clinical site with specific protocols and links: www.asmusa.org/dividions/c/btnewslinks.htm
From the Infectious Disease Society of America there is a new site: www.idsociety.org/BT/ToC.htm
From the AMA, there is a disaster preparedness site: www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/6206.html