City prepared for possible swine flu outbreak

Although fear about an H1N1 flu virus (swine flu) pandemic has somewhat subsided, public safety and health officials want citizens and especially emergency responders to be ever-vigilant about potential outbreaks of infectious disease.

Police, fire, medic and dispatch personnel from Redmond, Kirkland, Woodinville, Duvall and Carnation work closely together to audit their equipment and needs and maintain organizational charts so all will know who and what is available during a regional health crisis, assured Redmond Deputy Fire Chief Deb Ayrs.

"They're not just providers, they have the greatest exposure," when coming to the aid of the public, she added.

Public safety and fire departments are stocked with gloves, gowns, booties, goggles and fitted masks, of the type you would see in a hospital, to prevent the spread of germs.

Redmond's state-of-the-art Emergency Coordination Center (ECC) would be activated in a widespread outbreak and an incident commander would help to disseminate information and assign jobs as the event evolved.

Phil Grieb, ECC coordinator has been arranging conference calls so that key personnel in city departments can get used to the way they might have to work together when "social distancing" is a must. All sectors of city government and the office of emergency manangement interface with Public Health — Seattle & King County in a proactive fashion, said Ayrs.

As for the general public, “the regular flu season starts again in September,” she pointed out. “The time is now to take preventive measures.”

Be sure to get your annual flu shot to protect yourself against the most common strains and execute the same five-day preparedness plan that would apply to an earthquake, snowstorm or other major incident that could keep you housebound.

Have enough food, water, medicine and other essentials to keep you and your family safe and comfortable for at least five days.

For more information, visit www.redmond.gov/disasterprep/.

Contact Redmond Reporter Reporter Mary Stevens Decker at mdecker@redmond-reporter.com or (425) 867-0353, ext. 5052.

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