Prep for disaster—medical volunteers needed

Pandemic flu, anthrax, “dirty bomb.” Could it happen? Absolutely. These and other disasters could happen at any time. The Ogle County Health Department (OCHD) is seeking medical volunteers to assist the staff in the event of a disaster. With skilled volunteers, the Health Department would be able to provide a quicker response to any disaster that may occur.

In certain disasters, such as an anthrax exposure or pandemic flu outbreak, there may be antibiotics or vaccinations that could prevent or lessen a disease’s impact. The Health Department would be responsible for distributing these medications. OCHD has planned and practiced the distribution of emergency medications for Ogle County citizens. With the help of medical volunteers, they could more efficiently distribute needed medications or vaccinations. Points of distribution have been established in Rochelle and Oregon, with a backup site in Byron. During an emergency, the public would be directed to one of these sites.

If you are a nurse, physician, dentist, veterinarian or pharmacist, and would be interested in assisting with the distribution of medications during a disaster, OCHD would like to hear from you. At this time, you will be placed on a response list. No time will be required from you unless a disaster occurs. Information will be distributed periodically to keep you knowledgeable on current situations.