Functions of the Federal, State, and Local Level during this Bioterrorism Event
Health organizations enforce regulations, such as isolation, that may be necessary throughout the emergency period. In case of a bioterrorism event, it is the responsibility of the federal health organizations to announce a state of health emergency. This helps to enlighten the public to be vigilant and aware of the health risks that exist. This has to be done promptly in case the threat involves water safety since water is a necessary consumable for all human beings. The state health organizations play an essential role in ensuring the bioterrorism threat is contained. This means containing the spread of the health risk associated with water safety.
It may also involve the establishment of quarantines to ensure transmission or spread of the health risk form one state to another is impeded. Local authorities, through the local health officers, will help in the investigation of the cause of the threat to water safety, and determination of exactly how it occurred. They will also be involved in the treatment and prevention of diseases or other health risks associated with water safety. This will also involve determination of the number of persons affected by this bioterrorism event (Khardori, 2006).
Public Health Resources Available to Address this Bioterrorism Threat at the Federal, State, and/or Local Level
The federal health organizations are especially helpful in the provision of the necessary workforce that is usually necessary in control of the threats on water safety. Depending on the extent of the impact of the event, the health organizations will coordinate medical response teams to ensure sufficient provision of healthcare to persons who have already consumed the unsafe or infected water. This includes ensuring the availability of well trained and experienced nurses, doctors and other medical practitioners to help solve the health risks that arise due to the unsafe water.
The local health organizations help in the provision of the medical equipment and chemicals that may be required to handle the emergency immediately after its occurrence. The state and federal health organizations help in reinforcement of the medical equipment and staff, in case the demands of the incident area exceed what is available at the local health organizations.
Role of Communication during an Emergency Response
Local and state organizations should communicate to ensure all the necessary resources are promptly acquired from any nearby health institutions. Communication is also crucial between different counties and states to ensure there is no transmission of the health risks to adjacent water bodies and reservoirs. This is especially since when water safety is compromised it can result in transmission of water borne diseases or fatalities in case of consumption of poisoned water. The federal and state health organizations ought to ensure they communicate to the public to ensure they take extra precaution when it comes to water consumption and use. Such organizations must declare a state of public health in case the safety of such water sources and reservoirs is compromised (Kirch, 2008).
Strategies to Improve Effective Communication
In case of emergence of a health risk such as water safety, the health organization can ensure effective communication to the public through the use of the mass media, especially radio and television, to warn them to be vigilant of the risks that exist. This strategy improves communication since it is fast and reaches a large number of people. Once a majority of the population is aware of the risks that exist, they will spread it to others by word of mouth.
All public health organization should have hotline numbers to ensure they can communicate effectively in case of such emergencies. This will help ensure quick and secure communication, in case there is a need to ensure such communication need to be discrete or the sake of public safety.
References
Khardori, N. (2006). Bioterrorism Preparedness Medicine - Public Health - Policy. Weinheim:
Wiley-VCH.
Kirch, W. (2008). Encyclopedia Of Public Health. New York: Springer.
