Preparing the Front Line: Ready to Respond 
A Biosecurity Summer Institute at the University of Texas School of Public Health
1200 Herman Pressler, Houston, Texas
June 18 and 19; plus BDLS® on June 17
Two days in June that will help prepare you and your organization for emergencies. The safety of our communities and populations depends on prepared and integrated partners that include governmental entities, public health professionals, schools and nonprofit & nongovernmental organizations. We depend on our partners to deliver essential emergency response services that are coordinated and appropriate. Preparing the Front Line: Ready to Respond provides a variety of training opportunities applicable to all of the partners.
Schedule
| Class | June 17 | June 18 | June 19 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic Disaster Life Support (BDLS) (7:30 registration) (CME, CNE) (8 hours) |
7:30-5 | ||
| Biosecurity & the Law (8 hours) | 8-5 | ||
| Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for Health Departments (8 hours) | 8-5 | ||
| Volunteers & Mass Casualty Events (symposium on preparedness) (4 hours) | 8-12 | ||
| Pandemic Planning for School Districts (4 hours) (CNE) | 8-12 | 1-5 | |
| Mental Health in Crisis Situations (4 hours) | 8-12 | 1-5 | |
| Rapid Assessment (4 hours) | 1-5 | 8-12 | |
| Risk Communication (4 hours) | 1-5 | 8-12 |
Basic Disaster Life Support™ (BDLS®) (June 17 only)
Pre-Conference Course
BDLS® is a review of the all-hazards topics including natural and accidental man-made events; traumatic and explosive events; nuclear and radiological events; biological events; and chemical events. Also included is information on such critical areas as the health care professional’s role in the public health and incident management systems, community mental health, and special needs of underserved and vulnerable populations.
(CME and CNE will be available)
Biosecurity and the Law (June 18 only)
With the events of 9-11, professionals in healthcare have a new set of concerns and issues that seem to be constantly moving or changing. This course will provide in-depth discussion of the legal and ethical issues of actions that may, or may not, be taken in an emergency.
Course Instructors: Carl Hacker, JD, PhD; Katherine Wingfield, JD
Volunteers & Mass Casualty Events (symposium) (June 18 only)
A variety of officials and leaders in volunteer agencies will be creating a dialogue about how we might best address the integration of volunteer support (both professional and non-professional) in the response to mass casualty events. There will be brief presentations followed by open discussion.
Chairs: John Herbold, DVM, MPH, PhD and Martha McGlothlin (Texas DSHS)
PPE for Health Departments (June 19 only)
This course will detail the various types and levels of personal protective equipment and which one is the most appropriate level for a given situation. Training will include an all-hazards approach to disasters and demonstrations of appropriate decontamination measures for people, places and equipment.
Course Instructor: Arch "Chip" Carson, MD, PhD
Mental Health in Crisis Situations (June 18 & 19)
This session deals with the principles and protocols used in disaster behavioral health, disaster behavior health first aid and recognizing and treating behavioral health emergencies.
Course Instructor: USA Cener for Rural Public Health Preparedness (Texas A&M University)
Pandemic Planning for School Districts (June 18 & 19)
This course provides practical information for school districts and health departments to better prepare for seasonal and pandemic influenza; includes methods for monitoring absenteeism patterns and an introduction to an open-ware tool for syndromic surveillance. This course will also address collaboration needs between school districts and health departments. (CNE will be available.)
Course Instructors: Dean Lampman MBA; Tabatha Powell MPH; Jennifer Dowdy MPH
Rapid Assessment (June 18 & 19)
This course will cover rapid methods for conducting community assessments and obtaining reliable samples in outbreak and disaster situations.
Course Instructors: Beatrice Selwyn, ScD; Kristy Murray, DVM, PhD
Risk Communication (June 18 & 19)
Risk communication will provide a concise strategy for preparing emergency messages without creating confusion and discuss limiting mixed messages between officials and the media/public. The course will provide a guide for identifying communication assets and vital community tools.
Course Instructor: Roberrt Emery, DrPH
Scholarships
Scholarships are available to current post-secondary education students to cover registration fees. Upon check-in, recipients must submit proof of current student status.
Location
This Summer Institute will be held at the UT School of Public Health at 1200 Herman Pressler, Houston, in the Texas Medical Center.
Accommodations
Holiday Inn (713-528-7744) located at 6800 Main St, Houston, Texas 77030: Group rate of $85/night, plus taxes.
Refer to "Preparing the Front Line" to get the group rate. The last day to obtain these rates in June 2.
Continental Airlines Group Discount: Call 800-468-7022 and refer to Z code ZCCZZ and Agreement Code DCQMTT or book online at www.continental.com using ZCZZDCQMTT in the Offer Code box (additional 3% savings by booking online).
Registration and Cancellation
The tuition includes all course materials, instructor fees, parking, box lunch and refreshments. For payment using PO's, contact Vickie Mason at 866-394-8700. Registration will close on June 10. Cancellations must be in writing and be received by June 10, after which all fees are forfeited.