Delco Employees Learn Public Health Crisis Response Techniques

MEDIA, PA — Delaware County residents have another reason to feel safe, as the county recently an emergency Medical Counter Measures (MCM) training in which attendees learned how to respond to public health crises.

About 75 employees and guests of the Delaware County Courthouse and Government Center participated in an emergency MCM training exercise on April 11.

The MCM/Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) is the United States’ national repository of vaccines, antibiotics and other types of medications, medical equipment, and supplies that may be needed in the event of a public health emergency such as a terrorist attack, flu outbreak, or natural disaster.

Once federal, commonwealth and county authorities determine that a MCM activation is needed, medicines and/or supplies and equipment would be delivered to the affected counties for distribution to the general population by local public health authorities within 48 hours.

Delaware County held its annual MCM Dispensing Exercise to ensure continuity of county government operations in the event of a public health emergency in Delaware County.

After a presentation overview of the County plan from Wilbur Wolf, Aquila Strategies, a Point of Dispensing (POD) was set up in the public meeting room of the Government Center and employees participated in a mock drill.

In the event of an actual emergency, PODs would be set up throughout the county to administer medication, vaccinations or supplies to all County residents who may have been affected.

Lori Devlin, Director of Intercommunity Health a County MCM Coordinator thanked County Council and Marianne Grace, Executive Director for their continued support of the Medical Countermeasure Program.

"The April 11 PODEX is part of Delaware County’s ongoing effort to strengthen our local response in the event of a major public health emergency," she said.

More information on the Medical Counter Measures Program can be found online here.

To request trainings or presentations on the Delaware County Medical Countermeasures Program and other emergency preparedness programs please contact Danielle Koerner, Department of Emergency Services, at (610) 565-8700 or koernerd@co.delaware.pa.us.