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People with respiratory illness now have access to free, easy-to-use online resources that prepares them to protect their health in extended power outages. Franklin-Williamson Bi-County Health Department’s (FWBCHD’s) “BREATHE” website, www.BreatheEasyIL.info, makes planning for power outages easier.The website provides information and resources to three groups: 1) people who rely on power-operated medical equipment, 2) home medical equipment companies/providers, and 3) community emergency planners.
“The ‘BREATHE Easier in Power Outage Emergencies’ website takes the guesswork out of the planning and preparedness process for residents,” says Ronda Koch, FWBCHD director of emergency preparedness and BREATHE lead developer.
Koch urges all residents in southern Illinois to “take action now” by reviewing and utilizing BREATHE resources which include an 8.5 x 11 planning worksheet.
The preparedness action steps in the “BREATHE” acronym are listed below
B – Be Proactive – Act Now!
R – Reserve Medical Supplies
E – Establish a Support Team
A – Alternate Power Sources
T – Talk With Your Home Medical Equipment Provider and Make Plans
H – Home Emergency Supply Kit
E – Emergency Communication
While the “BREATHE” acronym provides the planning roadmap for residents, another resource, the “BREATHE” planning worksheet actually helps individuals accomplish power outage more preparedness planning. The worksheet records important information about medical equipment type, medical equipment company, local and out-of-area support contacts, and contains a preparedness checklist. Completing the planning worksheet helps residents tackle priority planning areas, enabling them to be more prepared and resilient during extended power outages.
FWBCHD utilized grant funds provided through the Illinois Department of Public Health by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to do this programming. Funding allowed FWBCHD to develop the BREATHE Easier in Power Outage Emergencies website, www.BreatheEasyIL.info, and to take the 8.5 x 11 BREATHE planning worksheet to produce full-sized dry-erase planning magnets. FWBCHD distributed over 10,000 preparedness magnets to most health departments in southern Illinois.
These Southern Illinois health departments are encouraged to reach out to their local home medical equipment companies to discuss the BREATHE program so these providers can share the preparedness magnets and other resources with their patients. Quantities of the BREATHE magnets are limited.
People interested in getting a preparedness magnet should do so quickly by first contacting their home medical equipment companies. If magnets aren’t available through the home medical equipment company, then contact the local health department. People in southern Illinois and throughout Illinois can otherwise get access to the BREATHE planning worksheet through the BREATHE website.
FWBCHD saw the need to develop respiratory-based preparedness resources after the May 2009 super derecho hit southern Illinois, impacting many people, particularly people who rely on electricity to operate home medical equipment. As lead agency developing the “BREATHE Easier in Power Outage Emergencies” program, Franklin-Williamson Bi-County Health Department is fulfilling its mission of “Empowering individuals and communities to actively pursue health lives through health promotion, disease prevention, environmental protection, and emergency preparedness.”
Contact Info:
Name: Ronda Koch
Email: Send Email
Organization: Franklin-Williamson Bi-County Health Department - Emergency Preparedness Division
Address: 8160 Express Drive, Marion, Illinois 62959
Phone: (618) 993-8111 x212
Website: http://www.BreatheEasyIL.info/
Release ID: 141478
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