The National Volunteer Fire Council
It’s National Preparedness Month, and each week Fire Corps is releasing information regarding a particular preparedness topic. The recent outbreak of the H1N1 Virus (swine flu) has refocused attention on the importance of flu and pandemic preparedness. Managing an outbreak requires effort and participation from everyone to help prevent the spread of disease and to ensure communities and families are prepared in the event of a crisis situation.
Staying informed and having a plan are essential in dealing with a possible flu pandemic. Fire Corps volunteers play a pivotal role in assisting with community preparedness, education, and awareness. Fire Corps programs can provide much needed support to the fire and emergency services by educating communities about how to prevent, prepare for, and respond to an outbreak. Volunteers can also fulfill the non-emergency roles in the department while firefighters and emergency medical personnel are out in the field responding to the critical, life-threatening situations during a pandemic influenza outbreak. Visit the Fire Corps Pandemic Influenza Resource Center to access resources outlining preparedness and ways to engage your Fire Corps program.
Learn more about National Preparedness Month and access resources at www.ready.gov. Fire Corps has created an online National Preparedness Month Resource Center to provide your department and Fire Corps team with additional tools and resources to get your community prepared for emergencies of all kinds.