How to Create a Disaster Plan for Pets and Animals

Do you have pets or animals? It is important to plan for pets’ and animals’ needs before a disaster strikes. FEMA and the Ready campaign have many resources to help owners of pets, livestock and large animals plan to take care of their animals before, during, and after an emergency.

Here are some helpful links that can aid you in preparing to take care of your pet or animal before an emergency occurs:

• Caring for Animals http://www.ready.gov/animals This webpage includes a tab on Guidelines for Pets (Prepare Shelter for Your Pet, Protect Your Pet During a Disaster, and Caring for Your Pet After a Disaster), as well as a tab on Guidelines for Large Animals (and Cold Weather Guidelines for Large Animals).
• Information For Pet Owners Fact Sheet http://www.ready.gov/sites/default/files/documents/files/Ready_Pets_Factsheet_20110803.pdf
• Community Pet Preparedness Toolkit http://www.ready.gov/sites/default/files/documents/files/PetPreparednessToolkit.pdf
• Preparing Your Pets for Emergencies Makes Sense. Get Ready Now. 2-page poster http://www.ready.gov/sites/default/files/documents/files/PrinterFriendly_PetOwners%5B1%5D.pdf
• Preparing Your Pets for Emergencies Makes Sense. Get Ready Now. Tri-fold brochure http://www.ready.gov/sites/default/files/documents/files/pets_brochure.pdf
• Find pet-friendly hotels, bed and breakfasts and campgrounds throughout the United States and Canada: http://www.gopetfriendly.com/  

01/30/2012 Press Release: February 3 is Give Kids a Smile Day – Free Dental Appointments Available Locally

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 30, 2012

Contact:

Eileen Fernandes

Greater Monadnock Public Health Network Coordinator

Office: 603-354-5454 Ext. 2130

Email: efernandes@cheshire-med.com   

February 3 is Give Kids a Smile Day – Free Dental Appointments Available Locally

KEENE, NH, 01/30/12 — Friday February 3 is Give Kids a Smile Day! Free dental appointments are available for children ages 3 – 18 who are Cheshire County residents. Parents can call 603-762-3770 or email givekidsasmileday@yahoo.com to sign up their child for a free dental appointment. Parents must accompany their children to their dental appointment. This event is supported locally by dentists and dental hygienists in Cheshire County, and is sponsored by the Dental Public Health Task Force and the Monadnock Dental Society.

Give Kids a Smile Day is a program sponsored by the American Dental Association (ADA). According to the ADA website, “Each year on the first Friday in February, thousands of the nation’s dentists and their dental team members provide free oral health care services to children from low-income families across the country.” (Source: http://www.ada.org/givekidsasmile.aspx ) This year marks the tenth anniversary of the nation-wide program.

For more information contact Eileen Fernandes at efernandes@cheshire-med.com or 603-354-5454 Ext. 2130.

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Press Release from Monadnock Community Hospital: MCH Resumes Normal Operations Following Decrease in Gastrointestinal Cases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE           

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:

Phil McFarland

Manager Marketing & Communications

Monadnock Community Hospital

(603) 924-4653 phone

Philip.McFarland@mchmail.org

MCH Resumes Normal Operations

Following Decrease in Gastrointestinal Cases

Peterborough – Monadnock Community Hospital has resumed normal operations as of Wednesday, 1/25/12 following a decrease in reported cases of gastrointestinal illness by patients and employees. All entryways to the facility are once again open. For the previous 48 hours, MCH had limited the available entrances to the facility in order to greet and educate the public on proper hand hygiene and the use of facemasks within the facility. An initial report of cases with gastrointestinal symptoms had led to that decision on Sunday, 1/22/12.

“The reported cases of patients and staff with gastrointestinal symptoms have stabilized and decreased,” notes Phil Vuocolo, MD, Chief Medical Officer at MCH. “We will continue to remind visitors about the importance of hand hygiene for the next 24 hours however, all entrances into the facility are again open and business operations are continuing normally. Staff at the hospital will continue to use standard precautions as well as facemasks in clinical areas when treating patients and we will continue to carefully monitor the situation.”

Visitors entering MCH always have the choice of using a facemask if they choose. Those supplies will continue to be made available, per usual.  All scheduled appointments are expected to occur.

Monadnock Community Hospital is a 25-bed Critical Access Hospital offering medical, surgical and Intensive Care; Obstetrics; Pediatrics; and Mental Health services. In addition, a wide variety of outpatient services are available, including Pulmonary, Cardiac and Physical Rehabilitation; 24-hour Emergency Care; a fully equipped laboratory; and an extensive Radiology department. MCH is blessed with strong leadership and a dedicated medical community that allows us to meet the ever-changing requirements of today's healthcare environment. As that environment changes, MCH is also committed to changing and providing the communities we serve with appropriate and innovative program.

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Ground Beef Products Sold at Hannafords in New Hampshire Recalled Due to Possible Salmonella Contamination

Ground beef products sold at Hannafords in New Hampshire and other northeast states have been recalled by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) due to possible contamination with Salmonella Typhimurium. Please read the following press release from the USDA.

(http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/Recall_100_2011_Release/index.asp)

Northeastern Grocery Chain Recalls Ground Beef Products Due To Possible Salmonella Contamination

Recall Release	CLASS I RECALL
FSIS-RC-100-2011	HEALTH RISK: HIGH

Congressional and Public Affairs
(202) 720-9113
Neil Gaffney

WASHINGTON, Dec. 15, 2011 - Hannaford, a Scarborough, Maine-based grocery chain, is recalling an undetermined amount of fresh ground beef products that may be contaminated with a strain of Salmonella Typhimurium, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

The products subject to recall are any size package of the following:

• "73% Hannaford Regular Ground Beef"
• "75% Hannaford Regular Ground Beef"
• "80% Hannaford Regular Ground Beef"
• "85% Hannaford Regular Ground Beef"
• "90% Hannaford Regular Ground Beef"
• "80% Taste of Inspirations Angus Ground Beef"
• "85% Taste of Inspirations Angus Ground Beef"
• "90% Taste of Inspirations Angus Ground Beef"
• "85% Nature's Place Ground Beef"
• "90% Nature's Place Ground Beef"

This recall was initiated due to concerns about illnesses caused by an outbreak of salmonellosis that may be associated with use and consumption of fresh in-store ground beef prepared in and purchased at Hannaford stores. The PFGE pattern associated with this outbreak is reported rarely in the U.S. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have reported 14 ill persons with an indistinguishable PFGE pattern, and 11 of those individuals reported consuming ground beef. Seven individuals were hospitalized and no deaths have been reported. Ten of the 14 case-patients reported purchasing ground beef at Hannaford stores in Maine, New York, New Hampshire and Vermont between Oct. 12 and Nov. 20. No other product description is available at this time. As a result of on-going epidemiologic and traceback investigations, as well as in-store reviews, FSIS, working with the CDC and its state health partners, determined that there is a link between the Hannaford ground beef products and this illness outbreak. FSIS is continuing to work with CDC, public health partners in the affected states and the company on the investigation. FSIS will continue to provide information as it becomes available.

The various ground beef packages bear sell-by dates of Dec. 17, 2011 or earlier and were sold at Hannaford stores throughout Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Vermont. FSIS and the company are concerned that some product may be frozen and in consumers' freezers. When available, the retail distribution list(s) will be posted on FSIS' website at: www.fsis.usda.gov/FSIS_Recalls
/Open_Federal_Cases/index.asp.

The outbreak strain of Salmonella Typhimurium has initially tested resistant to multiple commonly prescribed antibiotics, including drug classes such as beta-lactams, aminoglycosides, and cephalosporins. Additional information on drug resistance will be made public as it becomes available.

Based on an examination of Hannaford's limited records, FSIS was unable to determine responsible suppliers. FSIS recently identified this problem at the retail level and is pursuing rulemaking to address the concern. This recall is being issued as part of a continuing investigation. FSIS has not yet been able to identify FSIS-regulated suppliers of raw beef ground at Hannaford Stores related to the outbreak that could be subject to recall action.

Consumption of food contaminated with Salmonella can cause salmonellosis, one of the most common bacterial foodborne illnesses. Salmonella infections can be life-threatening, especially to those with weak immune systems, such as infants, the elderly, and persons with HIV infection or those undergoing chemotherapy. The most common manifestations of salmonellosis are diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever within 12 to 72 hours. Additional symptoms may be chills, headache, nausea and vomiting that can last up to seven days. Individuals concerned about an illness should contact a health care provider.

FSIS advises all consumers to safely prepare their raw meat products, including fresh and frozen, and only consume ground beef that has been cooked to a temperature of 160° F. The only way to confirm that ground beef is cooked to a temperature high enough to kill harmful bacteria is to use a food thermometer that measures internal temperature.

Customers who have questions are encouraged to call the Hannaford Customer Information Center, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at (800) 213-9040, and choose option 6. Media with questions regarding the recall can contact the company's Director of Corporate Communications, Michael Norton, at (207) 885-3132.

Consumers with food safety questions can "Ask Karen," the FSIS virtual representative available 24 hours a day at AskKaren.gov. The toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) is available in English and Spanish and can be reached from l0 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. Recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a day. 

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NH DHHS press release (11.21.11) "Food Safety Tips for the Holiday Season"

The following is taken from: http://www.dhhs.nh.gov/media/pr/11182011food.htm

Food Safety Tips for the Holiday Season

 

Contact:
Public Information Office
(603) 271-9391

Food Protection Section

Publish Date: November 18, 2011

Concord, NH – During this busy holiday season, the Department of Health and Human Services’ (DHHS) Bureau of Food Protection wants to remind everyone to follow some important food safety practices to avoid foodborne illnesses, such as Salmonella, E. coli, and Campylobacter.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an estimated 48 million cases of illness, 128,000 hospitalizations, and 3,000 deaths occurred in 2011 in the United States due to foodborne diseases. Symptoms can vary depending on the illness, but some common symptoms are diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and nausea. It is difficult to say with certainty which microbe is causing a given illness without laboratory testing.

“Don’t let germs ruin your holiday activities by not taking proper precautions against foodborne disease,” said Dr. José Montero, Director of Public Health at DHHS. “There are simple tips for safe food preparation that we should all be following every day, not just at holidays, but large gatherings and people cooking outside their comfort zone can present an opportunity for bacteria to be introduced into our food.”

The following simple precautions should always be followed by cooks and food handlers to reduce the possibility of anyone becoming sick:

• Separate: Use a separate cutting board for cooked foods and raw foods and always wash them after use. Do no cut raw vegetables on the same cutting board as raw meat. Avoid cross contamination. Wash any utensil after preparing one food item before going on to the next item.

• Clean: Always wash hands before touching any food. Wash hands and surfaces often during food preparation and afterward.

• Cook: Make sure all meats are thoroughly cooked by using a meat thermometer: turkey, stuffing, and casseroles to 165ºF; veal, beef, and lamb roasts to 145ºF; and ham, pork, ground beef, and egg dishes to 160ºF. When reheating, leftovers should be thoroughly heated to 165ºF.

• Chill: Refrigerate or freeze leftovers within two hours. The refrigerator should be maintained at 40ºF or lower and the freezer should be at 0ºF or lower. Keep hot foods hot, 140ºF or hotter, and cold foods cold, 40ºF or below. Never defrost food at room temperature. Thaw food in the refrigerator, in a cold-water bath, or in the microwave. When using a microwave, meat must be cooked immediately after. Marinate foods in the refrigerator.

• Report: Report suspected foodborne illnesses to the NH Department of Health and Human Services by calling 603-271-4496. Often calls from concerned citizens are how outbreaks are first detected. If a public health official calls you to talk about an outbreak your cooperation is important, even if you are not ill.

For more information visit www.usda.gov, www.cdc.gov, www.befoodsafe.org, or www.dhhs.nh.gov.

Join NH's volunteer system ESAR-VHP!

 
This information is provided by the NH Department of Health and Human Services.

http://icanhelp.nh.gov

The New Hampshire ESAR-VHP System is an electronic database of healthcare personnel and non-healthcare personnel who have indicated their interest in volunteering to provide aid in an emergency. The ESAR-VHP System:

1. registers healthcare volunteers and non-healthcare volunteers,
2. applies emergency credentialing standards to registered volunteers, and
3. allows for the verification of the identity, credentials, and qualifications of registered volunteers in an emergency.

Registered Volunteers are not required to respond to a request. Volunteers decide at the time of a request whether or not they can respond.

Importance of the ESAR-VHP Program

Experience has shown that, in an emergency, many of our nation’s health and medical providers are eager and willing to volunteer their professional health services. To meet the extraordinary demands of a large scale emergency, hospitals and other providers of healthcare will depend upon the services that health volunteers can provide. However, in a time of emergency, utilizing the capabilities of the nation’s health volunteers presents a major challenge to hospital, public health, and emergency authorities.

Immediately after the attacks on September 11, 2001, tens of thousands of people spontaneously showed up at ground zero in New York City to volunteer their assistance. A large number of these volunteers arrived to provide medical assistance to the victims of the attacks. In most cases, authorities were unable to distinguish those that were qualified from those that were not qualified, though well intentioned. Additionally, because the response was unsolicited and there was no mechanism of coordination, those that presented themselves reduced the effectiveness of the overall response effort rather than helping. The goal of the ESAR-VHP program is to eliminate a number of the significant problems encountered when seeking to utilize medical and healthcare volunteers in a complex emergency response situation.

The ESAR-VHP System is a National System Through State Coordination

The ESAR-VHP program is a State-based approach to establishing a national system. Every State independently develops, maintains, and operates an ESAR-VHP System. This effort is being funded through a federal grant from the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the  Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response: The National Hospital Preparedness Program. This system for mutual assistance is developed through common definitions, standards, and protocols. In this way, the States’ ESAR-VHP Systems will form a critical network to facilitate the deployment of willing, needed, and qualified health volunteers for any emergency.

The ESAR-VHP Systems are created in accordance with formal incident command and emergency protocols with proper authorities responsible for the coordination of health volunteers. NH ESAR-VHP is part of the NH Medical Reserve Corps System. Volunteers' contact information may be shared with preparedness and response partners in NH.

To sign up now to be part of the ESAR-VHP system, please visit http://icanhelp.nh.gov

FEMA Press Release: FEMA, FCC Announce Nationwide Test of the Emergency Alert System

The following is taken verbatim from http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=55722

FEMA, FCC Announce Nationwide Test of the Emergency Alert System

Similar to local Emergency Alert System Tests, this Test is Scheduled to Take Place on November 9, 2011

Release Date: June 9, 2011
Release Number: HQ-11-099

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will conduct the first nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS). The nationwide test will occur on Wednesday, November 9 at 2 p.m. eastern standard time and may last up to three and a half minutes.

The EAS is a national alert and warning system established to enable the President of the United States to address the American public during emergencies.  NOAA's National Weather Service, governors and state and local emergency authorities also use parts of the system to issue more localized emergency alerts. 

Similar to local EAS tests that are already conducted frequently, the nationwide test will involve broadcast radio and television stations, cable television, satellite radio and television services and wireline video service providers across all states and the territories of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and American Samoa.

On November 9, the public will hear a message indicating that "This is a test." The audio message will be the same for both radio and television. Under the FCC's rules, radio and television broadcasters, cable operators, satellite digital audio radio service providers, direct broadcast satellite service providers and wireline video service providers are required to receive and transmit presidential EAS messages to the public. A national test will help the federal partners and EAS participants determine the reliability of the system and its effectiveness in notifying the public of emergencies and potential dangers nationally and regionally.

"A national test of our Emergency Alert System, with the vital communications support and involvement of participants, is a step towards ensuring that the alert and warning community is prepared to deliver critical information that can help save lives and protect property," said Damon Penn, FEMA's Assistant Administrator of National Continuity Programs. "Because there has never been an activation of the Emergency Alert System on a national level, FEMA views this test as an excellent opportunity to assess the readiness and effectiveness of the current system.  It is important to remember that this is not a pass or fail test, but a chance to establish a baseline for making incremental improvements to the Emergency Alert System with ongoing and future testing.  It is also important to remember that the Emergency Alert System is one of many tools in our communications toolbox, and we will continue to work on additional channels that can be a lifeline of information for people during an emergency."

"The upcoming national test is critical to ensuring that the EAS works as designed," said Jamie Barnett, Chief of the FCC's Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau.  "As recent disasters here at home and in Japan have reminded us, a reliable and effective emergency alert and warning system is key to ensuring the public's safety during times of emergency.  We look forward to working with FEMA in preparation for this important test."

Over the past two years and as part of ongoing national preparedness planning efforts, FEMA, the FCC and other federal partners, state, local, tribal and territorial governments, Emergency Alert System participants and other stakeholders have been working toward making this test a reality. 

As the federal, state, tribal, territorial and local governments prepare for and test their capabilities, this event serves as a reminder that everyone should establish an emergency preparedness kit and emergency plan for themselves, their families, communities, and businesses.  Anyone can visit http://www.ready.gov/ for more information about how to prepare for and stay informed about what to do in the event of an actual emergency.

FEMA's mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.