Pandemic Influenza: Protecting Iowa First Responders

This course consists of five 15-minute presentations featuring the topics listed below. A Pre-Test and a Post-Test, to be completed by all participants, have been included to assess the effectiveness of the program.

  1. Avian Influenza and Historical Pandemic Events
  2. Self-Protective Measures
  3. Public Health Approaches to Disease and Illness Prevention
  4. Isolation and Quarantine
  5. Psychological Impact of Pandemics

Intended Audience

Iowa’s first responders

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of this program, participants will be able to:

  • Describe the history and current status of pandemic influenza.
  • Discuss safety considerations that must be implemented when responding to a pandemic influenza event.
  • Describe public health approaches that are in place for disease and illness prevention.
  • Discuss the legal issues that may arise when isolation and quarantine are implemented as disease containment strategies.
  • Discuss the psychological impact of pandemics in the responders’ performance.

Pre-requisites/Learning Level

No pre-requisites

Competencies addressed

Competencies identified

  • 1.1 Solve problems under emergency conditions
    • 1.1.3 Prioritize problems based on level of hazard and degree of risk
    • 1.1.8 Assess information, resources and procedures necessary to address the problems in emergency situations
    • 1.1.11 Assume responsibility for taking specific actions that further organization mission or population health in the presence of a public health emergency
    • 1.1.14 Recognize the ethical and moral implications of decisions made through a chain of command
    • 1.1.15 Refer problems that fall outside of one’s scope of authority to the appropriate person in the chain of command
  • 1.4 Maintain situational awareness
    • 1.4.3 Use information and resources that identify changes in the situation and/or response
    • 1.4.7 Distinguish between critical and non-critical elements of the emergency
  • 1.6 Act within the scope of one’s legal authority
    • 1.6.2 Apply appropriate public health authority to minimize adverse outcomes (e.g., persons, property, etc.)
    • 1.6.3 Access the emergency preparedness and response policies and procedures of one’s own organization
    • 1.6.4 Respond legally and consistently within the values and mission of one’s public health organization
  • 2.3 Report information potential relevant to the identification and control of an emergency through the chain of command
    • 2.3.2 Communicate within the organization’s defined command structure (i.e. report up, communicate down)
    • 2.3.3 Assess relevant emergency situational information coming into the agency
  • 3.3 Participate in improving the organization’s capacities (including but not limited to programs, plans, policies, laws and workforce training)
    • 3.3.2 Describe the key role of public health workers in an emergency response
    • 3.3.4 Apply knowledge and skills gained through participation in emergency preparedness and response activities to improve organizational capacities
  • 4.2 Employ protective behaviors according to changing conditions, personal limitations, and threats
    • 4.2.1 Discuss the need to protect worker health and safety in emergencies and disasters
    • 4.2.3 Promote taking protective actions in response to current and changing threats
    • 4.2.8 Discuss public health worker’s roles and responsibilities in designing, implementing and evaluating engineering, administrative, work practice and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) control measures
  • 4.3 Report unresolved threats to physical and mental health through the chain of command
    • 4.3.1 Discuss the types of physical hazards and resulting injuries one might encounter while performing one’s role during emergency planning and response
    • 4.3.2 Distinguish between potential threats to physical and mental well-being in the response environment

CEUs Offered

None

Cost

Free

Modality/format

Online Self-Pace

Length

1 hour

Presenter(s) and/or Content Experts

Patricia Quinlisk, MD, MPH; Tim Luloff, EMS; Mary J. Jones; Heather L. Adams; Lisa R. LaDue, MSW, LISW

Technical requirements:

  • Adobe Acrobat Reader 
  • Flash Player 
  • Speakers

Registration requirements

Register a free account

Creation and/or update

July 25, 2014

Length (minutes): 60