Preparing NJ municipalities for Ebola

While it's very unlikely that any communities in New Jersey will have a case of Ebola, it is possible that one will, and that's why municipalities, public health professionals, first responders and law enforcement personnel need to be prepared in the event of potential exposure, according to a Garden State health official.  

"With current circumstances, you have to do some preparation and that starts with training. That training should involve every single person within an organization from the highest paid to the lowest. You include people in the training even if you think they may not need to be involved," said Dr. George DiFerdinando, an adjunct professor of epidemiology at Rutgers School of Public Health.

People need to learn about personal protective equipment (PPE), and how best to cover the eyes, mouth and skin.

"The big questions right now are: How much coverage is needed and how do you get in and out of the personal protective equipment?" DiFerdinando said. "We haven't gotten to the bottom of this yet, but it appears that the problem has been as much about getting into and out of the protective equipment as it has been about whether it works when it's on."

The key, according to DiFerdinando, is to receive training before potential exposure and to work with a partner who can act as a coach when getting into and out of the gear.

"Any human being is going to be anxious knowing that a dangerous agent may have contaminated something that is fitted to their body. So, you want someone who can basically keep an eye on you and guide you through the process," DiFerdinando said. "It's important to learn prior to exposure because if you have to learn when you're in the middle of it, anxiety can make it difficult."

DiFerdinando will join Michael Richmond, counsel to the New Jersey Local Boards of Health Association, in presenting a seminar on actions that can be taken to ensure that communities in the Garden State are safe. It will be held Monday, Nov. 3 from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Middlesex County Fire Academy in Sayreville.

For more information or to register, visit www.cditraining.org or call 800-244-6921.