Updated Information About the H1N1 Vaccination Clinic

In an effort to reach as many target groups as possible, The Johnson County Health Department has been able to expand the number of target groups for the public H1N1 vaccination clinic on Saturday, October 31st, 2009 (9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. – or while supplies last). The clinic will be at the Northeast Offices complex, 6000 Lamar Ave., Mission, KS 66202. Please enter through the south doors. Doors will open at 8:45 a.m. Vaccine is free of charge.

Vaccine will be administered on a first-come, first-served basis to Johnson County residents only, for the following priority groups:

Pregnant women
Children six months to four years of age
Caregivers of infants less than six months of age or younger
Healthcare workers with direct patient contact

Healthy individuals ages two through 49 will receive nasal spray vaccine. Pregnant women and children six months to two years of age are not eligible for the nasal spray vaccine and will receive an injectable dose.

Consent forms as well as vaccine information sheets will be provided before the clinic at www.jocoflu.org. It is encouraged to have the form printed and filled out when you arrive at the site.

For additional information, go to www.jocoflu.org.

New Website for Emergency Management Volunteer Opportunities is Now Available

Johnson County Emergency Management & Homeland Security in conjunction with the Johnson County Citizen Corps Council has released a new website repository of volunteer opportunities called “Johnson County – A Community that Serves”. This website is for citizens interested in supporting comprehensive emergency management services in Johnson County.

The website includes information about various volunteer programs including the Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT), Medical Reserve Corps, Neighborhood Watch, Police Volunteers, as well as other unique opportunities. Each of these programs is available in different parts of Johnson County based on need and availability.

“Local volunteers not only improve the overall readiness of the County for emergencies,” said Nick Crossley, Director of Johnson County Emergency Management & Homeland Security, “but also builds a foundation of community readiness and sustainability which makes Johnson County – A Community Prepared!”.

Local citizens are encouraged to visit www.jocoserve.org to consider participation in one of the many robust volunteer programs listed at this new website. The website also contains information about how to financially support the various volunteer programs to ensure their long-term financial sustainability.

This local program follows the national call for service announced by President Obama and Former President Bush earlier this week and established by the national “United We Serve” campaign.

For more information about emergency management in Johnson County, please visit www.jocoem.org.

In Tough Times, Volunteerism Remains Strong in America

A new report released earlier this month by the Corporation for National and Community Service finds that even during a time of prolonged economic recession, volunteering has remained steady, fueled by a compassion boom led by young adults and a wave of do-it-yourself volunteers working with their neighbors to fix problems.

Volunteering in America 2009, the most comprehensive data ever assembled on volunteer trends and demographics, found that a total of 61.8 million Americans volunteered through an organization in 2008, up one million from the previous year. America's volunteers dedicated more than 8 billion hours of service in 2008, worth an estimated $162 billion.

In support of this strong community movement, Johnson County Emergency Management & Homeland Security is announcing a new website that will serve as a repository for all comprehensive emergency management volunteer opportunities in Johnson County. This website, www.jocoserve.org, is part of a new campaign called, "Johnson County -- A Community that Serves". Come visit our new site!

JOHNSON COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO HOLD PUBLIC H1N1 CLINIC

The Johnson County Health Department will offer a public H1N1 vaccination clinic on Saturday, October 31st, 2009 from 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. (or while supplies last) at the Northeast Offices complex, 6000 Lamar, Mission, KS 66202. Please enter through the south doors. Doors will open at 8:45 a.m.

Vaccine will be administered on a first-come, first-served basis to Johnson County residents only, for the following two priority groups:

Pregnant women
Children six months to four years of age

Healthy children ages two through four will receive nasal spray vaccine. Pregnant women are not eligible for the nasal spray vaccine and will be receiving an injectable dose.

Consent forms as well as vaccine information sheets will be provided before the clinic at www.jocoflu.org. It is encouraged to have the form printed and filled out when you arrive at the site.

For additional information, go to www.jocoflu.org.

Emergency Preparedness Starts With You!

Just as every home should have a smoke alarm and weather radio, every home should have an emergency supply kit packed and ready. And being prepared does not have to cost a lot of money.

While emergency preparedness is ongoing at Johnson County Emergency Management & Homeland Security, it's also an individual responsibility. You should be prepared to take care of yourself and members of your family for the first 72 hours – that’s three days – following a disaster such as a tornado or ice storm.

An emergency preparedness kit needs to include food and water for each member of the family for three days, a battery-powered or hand-crank radio, flashlight, spare batteries, first aid kit, non-electric can opener, local maps, moist towelettes, toilet paper, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation. Other items to consider include sleeping bags or blankets, paper towels, books, puzzles and games for children and pet food for family pets. It’s helpful to have cash in case banks are closed and ATMs are not operating.

The emergency supplies can be stored in an easy-to-carry plastic storage container or duffel bag, making them easy to grab and go when an emergency forces people to leave their home.

The Johnson County Emergency Management & Homeland Security website and the PrepareMetroKC website include an emergency kit checklist, interactive games for children and information for businesses on how to prepare for a disaster. The PrepareMetroKC site includes a Spanish version of the website as well.

Flu.gov Needs You!

The flu.gov website has new content, tools, and resources that provide information on H1N1 and seasonal flu, including symptoms and treatments, vaccines, tips for prevention, and live briefings. At this critical time, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) needs your help in informing the public about this valuable resource.

Here are some simple things you can do to promote Flu.gov:

1) Provide links from your website or blog to Flu.gov. Adding links to your homepage or health-related web pages is an easy way for you to direct users to Flu.gov for important H1N1 and seasonal flu information. The Flu.gov site provides information for parents, health care providers, government organizations, schools, businesses and more. It also includes interactive tools for evaluating flu-like symptoms and -- coming soon – more information about vaccination clinic locations. There is also a handy myths and facts section where you can check and see if what your friend and neighbors are telling you about the flu and the flu vaccine is correct and in line with the latest guidance from the CDC, the FDA and NIH.

2) Add a graphic to your website or blog.The Flu.gov graphics, available in both English and Spanish, are simple ways to show your support and use your website, blog, or social networking profile to share information. The image serves as a link to the Flu.gov website, allowing your visitors to quickly find flu information.

3) Reference Flu.gov on your online and offline products.When posting web content or creating print materials, adding references to Flu.gov is a great way to help spread the word. With live briefings and daily content updates, the site is the one-stop resource for flu information.
Print flu fact sheets and share the phone number for the national call center.

Johnson County Emergency Management & Homeland Security in conjunction with the Johnson County Health Department continue to promote emergency preparedness related to the H1N1 pandemic flu strain.

KMBC's H1N1 Flu Q&A

KMBC (Channel 9) has run a series of video interviews with regional public health experts to answer various questions submitted by the general public about the H1N1 pandemic flu. The topics include vaccinations and prevention as well as preparedness efforts for children and pregnant women. The following provides direct links to 4 of the 5 parts.

http://www.kmbc.com/video/21226474/index.html, part 1
http://www.kmbc.com/video/21226655/index.html, part 2
http://www.kmbc.com/video/21371982/index.html, part 3
http://www.kmbc.com/video/21226474/index.html, part 5

Johnson County Public Health also continues to provide updated information about the H1N1 pandemic flu at their website. Additional information is also available at www.preparemetrokc.org.

H1N1 Preparedness Guide for Community & Faith-Based Organizations

The Department of Health and Human Services Center for Faith Based and Neighborhood Partnerships has announced a new resource for community and faith-based organizations:

H1N1 Flu: A Guide for Community & Faith-based Organizations.

Community and faith-based organizations are essential partners in comprehensive state and local flu response, and this guide was created to support them this flu season. The guide provides specific action steps that community and faith-based organizations can take to help keep communities healthy during flu season, including:

Communicating important information about flu
Supporting vaccination efforts
Linking vulnerable and hard-to-reach populations to vital information and resources

Visit http://flu.gov/professional/community/ to download the guide. You can also visit the Johnson County Partners in Preparedness page to watch videos on what some local organizations are doing to be prepared for emergencies and disasters.

IT’S HERE – JCHD RECEIVES H1N1 FLU VACCINE

The Johnson County Health Department (JCHD) has received 700 doses of H1N1 flu vaccine in nasal spray form. Six hundred doses have been allocated to Johnson County Med-Act for first responders. One hundred doses will be distributed at the Health Department to staff with direct patient contact and to limited, high priority, high-risk populations. Twenty-three hundred doses were direct shipped to Johnson County hospitals.

JCHD expects that the next shipment of H1N1 flu vaccine will be received in approximately one week. The plan is to continue distribution to priority groups as vaccine allotment allows. Media updates will continue to be made as more details are available.

Information is available through the Johnson County Health Department Flu Hotline – 913-826-1263 and website http://health.jocogov.org

H1N1 Recommendations for Businesses

The Johnson County Public Health Department hosted an H1N1 Business Symposium yesterday at the Overland Park Marriot. Nearly 120 individuals representing numerous small and large businesses throughout the area came to hear an update on H1N1 as well as special considerations related to their preparedness.

KMBC, Channel 9, ran this story about the event.

Johnson County Household Hazardous Waste Event -- October 10th

Bring all of your Household Hazardous Waste to a collection event on Saturday Oct. 10 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. This is a great way to reduce risk in your home.

The Johnson County Stormwater Management Program is partnering with Johnson County Environmental Department and the City of Olathe to sponsor a collection event for residential household hazardous waste.

The Johnson County HHW Collection Facility (913-715-6900) and the Olathe Municipal Service Center facility (913-971-9311) will receive materials during the Oct. 10 event.

Please call for directions to the facilities, and please note that appointments are required for drop-offs at the Johnson County site. Call 913-715-6900 for appointments or visit http://jced.jocogov.org/ to make an appointment. Drop-offs at the Olathe site will be handled on a first-come, first-served basis.

Typical household hazardous wastes include batteries, disinfectants, drain and oven cleaners, mothballs, antifreeze, oil, paint, and pesticides. For a complete list of what is accepted at the collection sites please visit this site .

You can also drop off E-Waste at the Johnson County facility! What is E-waste? E-waste is electronics such as computers, monitors, keyboards, TVs and more. There is a nominal charge for TVs and monitors -- cash and checks are accepted. No credit cards.

Thanks to Local Childcare Providers!

Adam Crowe, Assistant Director of Community Preparedness for Johnson County Emergency Management & Homeland Security, spoke with childcare providers last night as part of their continuing education. They asked lots of good questions and engaged on issues related to community preparedness, individual preparedness, and child preparedness.

Thanks for helping to make Johnson County-- A Community Prepared!

Johnson County Health Department Communicates H1N1 Vaccination Plan

The Johnson County Health Department (JCHD), in cooperation with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), are following recommendations for the distribution of the H1N1 flu vaccine. With an approximate population of 540,000 individuals residing in the County and 200,000 of those individuals falling within H1N1 vaccination priority groups, JCHD understands the need to vaccinate targeted individuals as quickly and efficiently as possible. The plans include:

Supplying vaccine to those that have shown an interest and ability to administer flu vaccine:

Hospitals
School districts
Childcare facilities
Pediatrician offices
OB/GYN offices
Family practice offices


Once target groups have been vaccinated, JCHD will expand distribution to public providers.

The five target priority groups for initial vaccination are:

Pregnant women
Household contacts and caregivers for children younger than six months of age
Healthcare and emergency medical services personnel with direct patient contact
All individuals six months to 24 years of age
Persons aged 25 through 64 years who have health conditions associated with higher risk of medical complications from influenza.

Initial doses delivered will be nasal influenza vaccine. Certain groups are not eligible for this live vaccine. Those eligible are healthy individuals aged two to 49 and not pregnant. Additional supplies of vaccine are expected on a weekly basis, including inactivated influenza vaccine.


As always, JCHD recommends individuals to take these steps to help prevent getting the flu:

Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, or sneeze into the bend of your elbow. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it. Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are also effective.
Stay home if you are sick for seven days after your symptoms begin or until you have been symptom-free for 24 hours, whichever is longer. Get your seasonal flu and H1N1 vaccination when available.

Visit www.preparemetrokc.org for more information.

Fire Prevention Week

This week is fire prevention week. House fires damage many homes every year and are often avoidable. Two ways to ensure you are prepared for fires are as follows:

1) Change the batteries in your smoke detector. This should be done twice a year (remember it when you turn your clocks forward or back). If you are physically unable to change the batteries ask a family, friend, or neighbor to help. If that is not an option, call your local fire department for assistance.

2) Remember to check your fire extinguishers often to ensure they are properly charged. Fire extinguishers are a vital life protection device when facing an emergency. They do not last long, but it is sufficient time to get to an exit and avoid the fire.

What other tips do you have for fire prevention?

Upcoming H1N1 Business Symposium

The Johnson County Health Department (JCHD), in collaboration with Johnson County Emergency Management & Homeland Security (JCEMHS), will host an H1N1 Symposium for Johnson County Businesses on Monday, October 12, 2009 from 8:00am -9:00a.m. Registration/Breakfast/Networking, 9:00am–11:00am Program/Questions and Answers, at the Overland Park Marriott, 10800 Metcalf Avenue, Overland Park, Kansas.

Topics and speakers include:

H1N1: Federal and State Perspective
Dr. Jason Eberhart-Phillips, Director, KDHE Division of Health

What’s Happening in Johnson County?
Liz Ticer, Emergency Coordinator, Johnson County Health Department

How Can Local Businesses Prepare for H1N1?
Nick Crossley, CEM – Director, Johnson County Emergency Management & Homeland Security

There is no cost to attend the event, but pre-registration is required. A continental breakfast will be served. Due to the limited number of spaces available, please sign up soon to guarantee a spot! This is a unique opportunity for local businesses to be prepared!

To register online, go to: http://www.jocoem.org/cp/pbhttx.shtml. Help us spread the word!