2006 News
November 18 , 2006
Commissioners Declare Pandemic Flu Drill Raises Bucks Preparedness Level
Hundreds of health department officials, emergency medical professionals, police officers, and volunteers at three different locations were in place at 9:00 a.m. today, ready to begin the county’s first pandemic flu drill. The event was coordinated at the county’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in Ivyland, where representatives from the Bucks County Emergency Management Agency, health department, Major Incident Response Team (MIRT), and the American Red Cross served as a hub of information. The drill’s two main goals, to test response procedures in the case of a pandemic flu, and to inoculate Bucks County residents against the flu this season, were met in spades, according to Bucks County Commissioners Chairman Jim Cawley. An average of 554 vaccines per hour was administered during the drill.
“We received tremendously positive feedback at all three points of dispensing (PODs),” noted Commissioner Cawley. “The county will now conduct a thorough critique of our performance, so that we can carry forward those procedures that were successful, and make adjustments where improvement is needed.”
Cawley, who was joined by his fellow commissioners Charles H. Martin and Sandra A. Miller various locations for drill, added that the time to make these types of assessments is now, before a real emergency occurs.
A total of 3,325 Bucks Countians participated in the drill and received free flu shots at one of three locations on a sunny Saturday. Additionally, the following breakdowns were tracked throughout the day at the EOC:
| POD |
# vaccines total |
# flu mist |
# ages 9-18 |
# senior citizens |
| Lower Bucks |
1478 |
n/a |
96 |
769 |
| Central Bucks |
1070 |
49 |
107 |
238 |
| Upper Bucks |
777 |
67 |
85 |
207 |
| TOTAL |
3,325 |
116 |
288 |
1,214 |
Dr. Eleanor Travers, director of the health department, shares Commissioner Cawley’s sentiments about the success of the exercise. “Many county employees worked for many months to ensure the drill would go off smoothly. I congratulate our POD managers and thank all the community volunteers for making this possible.”
Each POD was staffed with a manager and other officials from the health department, medical and non-medical volunteers, and MIRT police officers. Everything from traffic flow to assistance with forms, and actual inoculations were handled.
Emergency Management Agency coordinator John Dougherty says because of the recent EOC activations during floods in the county, the staff is well-versed in coordination, communication and problem-solving skills. “Exercises like today’s pandemic flu drill helps maintain and increase our proficiency levels. I’m happy with how things progressed.”
In addition to the flu shots, the county also offered Tdap and pneumonia vaccines for the public.