Public Health Emergency Preparedness – Resources for Clinicians
IMMEDIATELY report the suspicion or occurrence of any disease from a bioterrorist, chemical or radiologic agent, any unusual disease OR outbreaks of any disease by calling the Alameda County Public Health Department, in accordance with the California Code of Regulations, Title 17 (Section 2500).
Information and Resources
- Emergency Medical Services Field Manual
Source: Alameda County Public Health Department – Emergency Medical Services - HazMat Emergency Preparedness Training and Tools for Responders
Source: State of California Emergency Medical Services Authority - Mass Casualty Incident Command
Source: Alameda County Public Health Department – Emergency Medical Services - Smallpox Overview for Clinicians
Source: Centers for Disease Control & Prevention - California Disaster Medical Operations Manual
Source: State of California - Terrorism Emergency – First Hours
Source: Centers for Disease Control & Prevention
Alameda County POD Training
Overview
Audience: All POD Site Personnel
Description: This video is Just-in-Time Training for Point of Dispensing (POD) site Personnel, and is based on the Incident Command System (ICS).
Leadership
Audience: Leadership staff includes people who would be supervising POD staff, such as unit leaders and group supervisors.
Description: This video is Just-in-Time Training for Point of Dispensing (POD) site Leadership Personnel, and is based on the Incident Command System (ICS).
Command
Audience: Command staff includes the Incident Commander, Public Information Officer, Liaison Officer, and Safety Officer.
Description: This video is Just-in-Time Training for Point of Dispensing (POD) site Command Personnel, and is based on the Incident Command System (ICS).
Operations
Audience: Operations staff are the “doers.” These people will be managing the lines of people, giving medicine and answering questions.
Description: This video is Just-in-Time Training for Point of Dispensing (POD) site Operations Personnel, and is based on the Incident Command System (ICS).
Logistics
Audience: Logistics staff are the “getters” These people will provide resources and services to get medicine to everyone.
Description: This video is Just in Time Training for Point of Dispensing (POD) site Logistics Personnel, and is based on the Incident Command System (ICS).
Planning
Audience: Planning staff prepared the documents and collect all the written information for the event.
Description: This video is Just in Time Training for Point of Dispensing (POD) site Planning Personnel, and is based on the Incident Command System (ICS).
Finance/Admin
Audience: The Finance/Administration are the people handing the money. These people monitor costs, procurement and time recording of the event.
Description: This video is Just in Time Training for Point of Dispensing (POD) site Finance/Admin Personnel, and is based on the Incident Command System (ICS).
Operations (Vaccinations)
Audience: Operations staff are the “doers.” These people will be managing the lines of people, giving vaccinations and answering questions.
Description: This video is Just in Time Training for Operations Staff at a vaccination Point of Dispensing (POD), and is based on the Incident Command System (ICS).
Logistics (Vaccination)
Audience: Logistics staff are the “getters.” These people will provide resources and services to support the vaccination site and the people working in the sites.
Description: This video is Just in Time Training for Logistics Staff responsible for setting up Vaccination Stations at a vaccination Point of Dispensing (POD) site, and is based on the Incident Command System (ICS).
Operations Clinical Staff (Vaccinations)
Audience: Operations staff are the “doers.” These people will be giving vaccinations and answering questions.
Description: This video is Just in Time Training for Operations Clinical Staff responsible for administering vaccines at a vaccination Point of Dispensing (POD) site, and is based on the Incident Command System (ICS).
Public Health Emergency Preparedness - Exercises
2019 Statewide Medical Exercise
This year’s Statewide Medical and Health Exercise is once again designed to build upon our medical, public health and healthcare partner capabilities and capacity for a coordinated response. The scenario for this year’s exercise is a flood event that will test various preparedness and response capabilities over several weeks in November. Please visit this site for more information on this year’s exercise.
October 1 Tabletop Exercise
February 26, 2020 Functional Exercise (Rescheduled from 2019)
- Registration Flier
- Functional Exercise Agenda
- Levels of Play & Developing Objectives Webinar Powerpoint
- Levels of Play Guideline
- Exercise Plan (ExPlan)
- AlCo Emergency Operations Plan
- AlCo Pediatric Surge Plan
- AlCo EMS MCI Policy
- AlCo Reddinet Utilization Policy
- Resources for Players
- Forms for Players
- Participant Evaluation
Past Exercises
Public Health Emergency Preparedness Resources - Heat and Health
Cooling Centers
When the weather gets extremely hot, “Cooling Centers” may be opened in Alameda County. Cities may identify facilities such as a senior centers, community centers or libraries that have air conditioning, where the public may go to cool down during a heat wave. Some may also provide other resources for people who are experiencing homelessness or are unsheltered.
The Alameda County Office of Emergency Services (OES) works with Cities to compile a list of facilities and their operational hours during times of extreme heat. When there is a need for Cooling Centers to open and facilities have been identified that can provide this service, Alameda County OES will post a list of cooling centers and facilities and their operational hours.
The changing climate means Alameda County residents can expect more extreme heat waves. Extreme heat puts a toll on health. Extreme heat waves can increase the risk of heat-related illnesses, such as heat stroke, exhaustion, and dehydration. Warmer temperatures create more pollen in the air, stronger airborne allergens, and more allergy symptoms. Certain populations such as the elderly, children, people with disabilities and those living alone are at a higher risk during heat events.
Learn more about Heat and Health and what the Alameda County Health, Public Health Department is doing in Ashland and Cherryland at https://www.coolingourcommunities.com/heat
Stay hydrated and stay indoors in a cooler environment, if you can! The Heat and Health flyer below has symptoms of heat illness to look out for and tips for staying cool and reducing the impacts of hot weather. It also has more detailed information about the urban conditions that can exacerbate heat events, the effects of extreme heat days.
Heat and Health Preparedness Pocket Guide
Download the Heat and Health Preparedness Pocket Guide for guidance and resources and to create a Family Emergency Plan. Click below for printable PDFs in 6 different languages. Available in English, Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Arabic, and Farsi
Heat and Health flyer: English | Spanish
Heat Alerts
Heat Alerts are issued by the Alameda County Office of Emergency Services during extreme heat events and emergencies and sent through AC Alert, Alameda County’s emergency alerts system. The public can sign up to receive these alerts via email. Cities may also issue their own alerts. These alerts are different from Health Alerts, Advisories and Updates issued by the Public Health Department at the direction of the Alameda County Health Officer. The public can follow Alameda County Health Care Services Agency on social media at Dare2BWell for health-related information.
Additional Resources
- The Alameda County Heat Vulnerability Map, created in 2019, illustrates social and environmental factors that contribute to heat vulnerability in Alameda County. A 2018 analysis of climate change vulnerability [no link] conducted by the Alameda County Community Assessment, Planning and Evaluation Unit (CAPE) is the foundation of the map’s data.
- California Department of Public Health “Guidance for Cooling Centers on COVID-19
- COVID-19 Protocol for Cooling Center (ACPHD, 7.28.21)
- Alameda County Health Care for the Homeless Heat Emergency Resources
- Cooling Our Communities is a program that promotes resiliency to the impacts of heat and climate change and is a partnership between the Alameda County Planning Department, Public Health Department, and Sustainability Office and RCD Housing. The program aims to engage residents about the public health risks of rising temperatures and ways to best adapt to the changing climate, develop leaders to do outreach and provides free trees (limited number) to residents of Ashland and Cherryland to address urban heat island.
- Up-to-date heat-related weather information is available from the National Weather Service.
- 2-1-1 is a free, non-emergency, confidential, 3-digit phone number and service that provides easy access to housing information and critical health and human services. 2-1-1 operates 24/7 with multilingual capabilities.
Visit 211alamedacounty.org to use their resource finder for more information about health and human service providers in Alameda County.
- AC Alert is the primary way to receive up-to-date notifications about events and emergencies that may affect your home, workplace, and other places within Alameda County. Many cities use AC Alert to emergency information and alerts – such as evacuation and disaster instructions – by voice, text and email, as well as well as sending TTY/TDD messages, messaging Nixle subscribers, posting to social media pages, and sending FEMA Wireless Alerts (WEA).
Go to the AC Alert signup page to sign up or edit your account information, for emergency notifications today!
- Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) events are precautionary measures conducted by PG&E during extreme fire danger conditions to help reduce the risk of wildfire. PG&E expects to be able to restore power within 24 to 48 hours after extreme weather has passed, however, outages could last longer depending on weather conditions or if repairs are needed. Their goal, dependent on forecasted weather and other factors, is to send customer alerts at 48 hours, again at 24 hours and again just prior to shutting off power, when possible.
Update your contact information for advanced notification of a Public Safety Power Shutoff event.
- California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Emergency Preparedness Office has tips on preparing for a heat wave and avoiding the greatest health dangers.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has a Spanish-translation of CDC’s Climate Change and Extreme Heat infographic
Public Safety Power Shutoff Resources
- pge.com/pspsupdates – For real-time PSPS updates
- prepareforpwerdown.com – Learn more about how to prepare for a Public Safety Power Shutoff
- PSPS Frequently Asked Questions
- PG&E’s Medical Baseline Program – Offers lower energy bills for certain medical conditions or life-support equipment
Public Health Emergency Preparedness – Wildfire Resources
- acphd.org/wildfire-smoke – Alameda County Wildfire Smoke Resources
- pge.com/wildfiresafety – Tips to help you prepare for wildfire season
- readyforwildfire.org – CAL FIRE’s wildfire preparedness website
- cpuc.ca.gov/wildfiresinfo – Information on the CPUC’s wildfire safety efforts
Additional Preparedness Resources
- ready.gov – Disaster preparedness information from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security
- caloes.ca.gov – California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services website
- firesafecouncil.org – California Fire Safe Council website
noaa.gov – National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration website