Download Date: 09/11/09 - Bonner County

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Bonner County LEPC
Local Emergency Planning Committee
Meeting Notes – November 13, 2014
Bonner County Administration Building
1st Floor Conference Room
1500 Highway 2
Sandpoint, ID 83864
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Meeting called to order at 8:31am
Pledge of Allegiance
Introductions
October minutes/notes approved
Attendees
Tammy Klingler – BC 911
Leah Thoreson - BCEM
Rick Bailey – Sandpoint PD
Jamie Bradley – BC911
Dale Hopkins – Westside Fire
Andrew Isaacs –Life Flight Network
Bob Wathen – Sam Owen Fire
Nate Widgren – Schweitzer Mtn Resort
Victoria Zeischegg – Private Health Svcs. Glen Bailey – BOCC
Spencer Newton – Schweitzer Fire
Mike Nielsen – BOCC PLSAR
Don Wells – Avista
Jan Hoogstad – Avista
Jonnie Bradley – The Wise Guide
Rochelle Russell – Kaniksu Health Svcs.
Kiersten Ogberde – Kaniksu Health Svcs. Adam Crippen – Industrial Communication
Mac Mikkelsen - Avista
Presentation – Dale Peck: Panhandle Health District – Ebola Presentation:
About the disease – Viral Hemorrhangic Fever
 Ebola is a dangerous virus that can be life-threatening
 Ebola first identified in 1976
 On August 8 the World Health Organization declared the current outbreak a international
public health concern
 Ebola is spread by contact with blood and other body fluids from a person with symptoms
of the disease.
 The infection is spread when infected body fluids come in contact with mucous
membranes, breaks in the skin or through sharps injury
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Ebola is not transmitted through the air unless there is exposure to body fluid droplets
from the infected person
How long does the virus live outside the body?
o Dry surfaces – several hours
o In body fluids – several days
o Virus is killed by hospital disinfectants and household bleach
Ebola is not waterborne or food borne (except African bush meat)
Ebola is only transmitted from persons who are showing symptoms of the disease
Symptoms include, fever, weakness, abdominal pain, joint muscle aches, headache,
vomiting, diarrhea, internal & external bleeding
Illness begins on average of 8 – 10 days but can range from 2 – 21 days
Current no FDA approved treatments or vaccines
Main treatment is supportive care until the patient’s body can control the virus
Ebola spreads in Africa because of inadequate infection control, limited health care and
burial ceremonies that expose people to infectious body fluids. These conditions do not
exist in the US and we have seen very limited spread and much lower mortality rates.
Current world wide situation
 West African case count as of Nov. 7, 13,268 cases and death total is at 4960
 Countries most effected Liberia, Sierra Leone & Guinea
 In US 1 death, 2 cases confirmed as infected within the country
 Several US healthcare workers and a newsperson have been successfully treated for
Ebola.
 Good news on all community and hospital contacts with fatality in Dallas are decease free
 Currently the US is Ebola free
Local preparedness efforts
 PHD established Incident Command on Oct. 8
 Public information ongoing
 Daily review of the situation and most recent guidance
 Weekly publication of a Public Health Update
o [email protected]
 EMS and hospitals are doing a good job of preparing
 Regularly answer questions by community partners
 Having meetings like this in each county
Process of Monitoring of a Potential Ebola Patient
 All US airline travels are entering through one of five screening airports
 Immigration and CDC are screening approximately 100 inbound travelers from the three
effected countries daily
 Four exposure categories
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Symptomatic travelers are isolated and tested
Asymptomatic travelers are in three highest exposure categories are being actively
monitored by local public health
CDC will notify the state who will notify local public health that a travel with possible
exposure to Ebola is coming to our area
PHD will meet with each traveler and start a twice a day monitoring of temperature and
other symptoms for 21 days after potential last exposure
Individuals will be instructed to call Public Health if they become symptomatic
PHD will notify Dispatch, EMS and the effective Hospital of a potentially infectious
Ebola patient needing their service
Local Community Treatment Process
 911 call center
o Ask about recent travel from west Africa
o Properly notify EMS
 EMS
o Proper PPE
o Notification to hospital of potential Ebola patient
o Good procedures have been developed by both Bonner and Kootenai county EMS
o Vehicle and staff out of service until proper decontamination is completed
 Hospital
o Screen patient at Emergency Room for potential walk-ins
o Notify State and PHD via StateCom of potential Ebola patient
o Designate room to be utilized for isolation
o Proper training and equipping of staff
o Minimize the number of staff to have contact
o Follow CDC guidance for care
 Law Enforcement
o Assist in enforcement of isolation if needed
o Isolation order only issued if individual is not willing to cooperate with public
health monitoring
Takeaway Message
 Value of early screening through travel history questions
 Communications with all involved if a suspect case is identified
 Train on and use proper PPE at all levels
Please let PHD know if we can be of any assistance.
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Around the Room:
Glen Bailey/BOCC: Appreciates Panhandle Health District keeping out community informed and
updated not only with Ebola, but the influenza virus as well.
Mak Mikkleson/Avista: Cabinet Gorge Dam drill in September did not go so well. Proper
mitigation has been completed in order to improve response. Mak apologizes formally on behalf
of Avista.
Nate Widgren/Schweitzer Mountain Resort: Mass Casualty exercise registration is at noon at
Schweitzer.
Vitoria Zeishweigg/Private Health Services: Victoria suggested taking a Vitamin D supplement to
boost our immune systems and help fend off seasonal depression due to our decreased daylight
hours.
Jonnie Bradley/The Wise Guide: The Wise Guide will be having their semiannual, county wide
advisory meeting next week.
Tammy Klingler/BC911: Tammy will be attending the Mass Casualty TTX at Schweitzer.
Dispatch will be meeting with Schweitzer the following week to instruct Schweitzer employees
on information required when calling dispatch. Dispatch has been working with EMS and APCO
, a nationally recognized public safety advisory, to establish Ebola procedures to help dispatch
better prepare first responders in the event of an Ebola transport.
Meeting Adjourned 8:59 am
Next meeting: Thursday, December 4, 2014 at 8:30AM, West Pend Oreille Fire Department, 1104
9th St, Priest River, ID 83856