The Cincinnati Health Department's Center for Public Health Preparedness will conduct an exercise Thursday to determine if the area is prepared for a public health emergency.
The "Points of Dispensing" (POD) exercise on July 16 from 2 p.m. until 3:30 p.m. will simulate a mass medication plan that could be called for if there were a biological terrorist attack or severe pandemic flu situation.
Community volunteers will participate in the simulation either as POD workers or patients. The exercise will test the amount of time it takes for patients to fill out paperwork and be prescribed medication for a hypothetical anthrax attack, according to the Cincinnati Health Department.
"The exercise is great way to prepare to respond quickly if there ever were an anthrax attack," said Senior Environmental/Safety Specialist, Ami McLandsborough. The principles learned during the exercise could also be applied for a mass vaccination for the flu this fall or a smallpox attack, she added.
The simulation will take place at Shroder High School in Cincinnati. If you are interested in volunteering for the simulation contact Kristin at (513)357-7206.
