Charlie O’Brien, DSHS

Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) – Health Service Region 4/5 North Public Health Preparedness – Epidemiology Response Program will hold a Community Emergency Medication Clinic (CEMC) preparedness drill in Gilmer, Texas on Monday.

This drill will assess the effectiveness of plans to quickly dispense preventative medication to the public in the event of an act of bioterrorism or other public health emergency. The drill also evaluates the effectiveness of a community’s disaster response system and permits community volunteers to practice their designated roles and responsibilities in preparation for an emergency.

During the drill, DSHS personnel will exercise many aspects of regional and state public health emergency response plans including mass dispensing antibiotics to residents that have been affected by a biological or naturally occurring agent; public information dissemination and crisis emergency risk communication; and overall review or other logistical components such as clinic flow, surge capacity, mass transportation of patients and volunteers, sit security, and traffic control.

Sheryl Gajewsky, R.N., with the DSHS Region 4/5 North Epidemiology Response Team (ERT) stated, “Local planning for this event has been under way for several months.” “Clinic volunteers who have been recruited and trained include Gilmer school system administration, teachers, and support staff, as well as, volunteers form many other agencies.” Gajewsky also related “city and county law enforcement agencies, emergency response personnel, elected officials and others have been involved in planning efforts and will take part Monday.”

The drill will involve more than 500 local volunteers acting as patients who will come to the CEMC to receive preventative medication due to the results of a simulated exposure to a biological agent. The event should take about 5 hours to complete.