Training Helps Strengthen LDH Emergency Response

Baton Rouge- In order to fine-tune their emergency response, Louisiana Department of Health is holding nine statewide disaster preparedness seminars.  At these events, LDH employees will learn more about the agency’s critical role in the event of a hurricane, disease epidemic or other health disaster.

 The focus of these seminars is for LDH staffers to learn more about Emergency Support Function (ESF) 8.

 During an emergency, state agencies are grouped by their responsibilities into 16 different groups, called Emergency Support Functions. LDH is the primary agency in charge of ESF 8, which involves public health and medical services, according to Louisiana Center for Community Preparedness Executive Director Doris Brown.

  “Some of those responsibilities include medical evacuations, sheltering people with special medical needs and dispensing medications during a disease outbreak,” Brown said.  

 Pam Metoyer, DHH’s nurse consultant for emergency preparedness and response, said the training will include emergency scenarios and situations. “We not only want to educate our employees on our role during emergencies and disasters, we want them to have the opportunity to put their knowledge into action,” she said.

 The first seminar will be held Friday, March 7, 2008 at Treasures of Marilyns in Lake Charles. Staff from DHH’s Office of Public Health will conduct the training.

What:                 ESF 8 Seminars

When:                Friday, March, 7, 2008

                           8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

                           The media is invited to attend from 12:45-2:45 p.m.

Where:              Treasures of Marilyns

                           3510 5^th Avenue

                           Lake Charles, LA

 For more information, contact Ken Pastorick with the Office of Public Health at (225) 335-0235.

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