April 11, 2006
Responding to Flu Pandemic, IAFF Recommendations
"An Influenza pandemic could potentially result in widespread illness and death around the world. Because all disasters and emergencies are dealt with locally, each local fire and emergency medical department must collaborate with its local government, public health department and community stakeholders to devise a plan of action.
The recent hurricane disasters illustrate the need for planning and preparation for effective and efficient response in an emergency. Some localities already have task forces established or are in the process of putting them together and developing their plans. It is critical for IAFF affiliates to have representatives on these task forces to ensure that policy and care delivery models are developed with first responders’ concerns at the forefront. ..."
"For example, if an outbreak of pandemic flu were to occur and mass inoculations needed among the general public, the best delivery system may be for trained fire fighters and emergency medical personnel to provide such vaccinations, and their fire departments and fire stations serve as inoculation centers. Attempting to deliver such a mass inoculation through hospitals or local health departments that are not available on a 24/7 basis could be a miserable failure and harm their ability to treat what would already be an extremely high load of patients during an outbreak. ...."
IAFF Pandemic checklist
IAFF Pandemic bulletin
Tag: iaff
