Public Health Notes

Imagine--------

...the thrill Jimmy, who lives in Oakland, feels when he finally sees Yosemite for the first time.  It is something he has dreamed of since High School.  Imagine, too, how he feels, coming down with the flu while touring Bridalveil Falls:  aching muscles, fever, headache, and cough.

Now imagine how the paramedic in the ambulance with him feels, knowing that the feared Avian Flu had arrived in San Francisco just three weeks before.

We ask that you now imagine how you would respond, knowing that the paramedic got ill, the nurses at Yosemite Medical Clinic got ill, that the John C. Fremont hospital is setting up for a  large numbers of flu patients, and the Health Department is on alert for an epidemic.

Your imagination is important to our up-coming community-wide medical disaster exercise.  We want to test our response to a large epidemic, and the testing will involve not only community medical clinics, Health Department, and Hospital, but also the Ambulance, Fire Department, Sheriff, County Administration, many County and State agencies, schools, private businesses, and citizens.

We will concentrate on imagining how to handle a “surge” of patients (perhaps over one hundred) who swamp our local hospital.  On May 21, 2008 we will test the use of an “Alternate Care Site” at the Fairgrounds, where patients will be treated as if we were within an epidemic (think M.A.S.H. field hospital).  Your involvement is needed to make this a successful exercise.

If you are willing to volunteer as a “patient” or “family health helper” for the exercise on May 21, 2008, please call the Health Department at (209) 966-3689 or 1-800-459-4466 and give us your name and contact information.  Not only will it be fun, it will help all the participating agencies learn more about responding to a Public Health emergency.

Thank you,

Charles B. Mosher, MD, MPH, Health Officer

Mariposa County Prescription Discount Card

Click Here for More Information

Prevent the Flu - Good Health Habits

click on the link below

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/habits.htm

Listed below are the telephone numbers, addresses and e-mail links for the following programs:

Health Department 209-966-3689,Toll Free: 800-459-4466, 4988 11th Street, Post Office Box 5, Mariposa, CA 95338

Environmental Health 209-966-2220, Toll Free: 888-777-0377, 5100 Bullion Street, Post Office Box 5, Mariposa, CA 95338

Burn Day Information 209-966-1200 or Toll Free: 888-440-BURN (2876)