News
Promoting emergency preparedness
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| Helping prepare: Patricia Spaulding of the Benson Hospital Auxiliary offers a 72-hour preparedness bag kit. (Chris Dabovich/photo.) |
Chris Dabovich
San Pedro Valley News-Sun
If terrorists crossed the U.S.-Mexico border at Naco and made way to Benson to wreak havoc, or if a natural disaster were to rock the San Pedro Valley, would you be prepared at home to deal with such an emergency?
That was the aim Friday of Benson Hospital's Emergency Preparedness Fair, to answer questions and offer tips on just what to do in the event of catastrophe. And in post 9/11 times, man-made devastation is not beyond the realm of probability.
"It's very important for people to be prepared," said April Bidon, who organized the fair, with help from Benson Hospital Auxiliary members. "We need to start talking to people."
Despite cooler-than-normal temperature, courtesy of a brisk wind, a steady flow of visitors made their way to the informational booths. One booth offered tips on proper storage of foods. Another addressed what to do should an outbreak of a Pandemic flu permeate the San Pedro Valley. The hospital's decontamination tent, complete with showers and other cleaning methods that would be used in the event of chemical or radiation exposure, was one of the visual displays, along with a dummy clad in protective gear that leaves no part of the body exposed was outside the tent for all to see.
Cochise County Search and Rescue had its communication center on display. The unit has the capability of becoming a community or region's lifeline should electricity or telephone service be disrupted.
In all, Cochise County Health Department, Southeastern Arizona Behavioral Health Services, Benson Police, Animal Control, American Red Cross, Apache Nitrogen Products, Inc., Cochise County Victim Witness, Chiricahua Community Center and Family Preparedness Canning - the cannery 72-hour kits, participated in the five-hour fair.
Helen Wirth of Benson found the fair to be informative.
"The most helpful thing I found was in the cannery section and the emphasis on the use of food-grade diatomaceous earth for toxic control," said Wirth, while noting the fair provided another aspect of equal importance.
"I think it helps dispel fear," said Wirth. "I think fear is one of the biggest problems we have in this country; we harm ourselves with our own fear."
Tips on designing a safe shelter, setting rendezvous points for family members and storing enough food, water, medication and first-aid supplies were just a few tips offered in one-of-many pamphlets.
"Everything went really well," said Bidon. "I'm really pleased and grateful with the response and for the community's donations. We had a lot of support from the CEO (Ron McKinnon)."
Bidon said the community and local businesses and merchants kicked in $600 used for a pair of 72-hour emergency preparedness kits.
San Pedro Valley News-Sun
If terrorists crossed the U.S.-Mexico border at Naco and made way to Benson to wreak havoc, or if a natural disaster were to rock the San Pedro Valley, would you be prepared at home to deal with such an emergency?
That was the aim Friday of Benson Hospital's Emergency Preparedness Fair, to answer questions and offer tips on just what to do in the event of catastrophe. And in post 9/11 times, man-made devastation is not beyond the realm of probability.
"It's very important for people to be prepared," said April Bidon, who organized the fair, with help from Benson Hospital Auxiliary members. "We need to start talking to people."
Despite cooler-than-normal temperature, courtesy of a brisk wind, a steady flow of visitors made their way to the informational booths. One booth offered tips on proper storage of foods. Another addressed what to do should an outbreak of a Pandemic flu permeate the San Pedro Valley. The hospital's decontamination tent, complete with showers and other cleaning methods that would be used in the event of chemical or radiation exposure, was one of the visual displays, along with a dummy clad in protective gear that leaves no part of the body exposed was outside the tent for all to see.
Cochise County Search and Rescue had its communication center on display. The unit has the capability of becoming a community or region's lifeline should electricity or telephone service be disrupted.
In all, Cochise County Health Department, Southeastern Arizona Behavioral Health Services, Benson Police, Animal Control, American Red Cross, Apache Nitrogen Products, Inc., Cochise County Victim Witness, Chiricahua Community Center and Family Preparedness Canning - the cannery 72-hour kits, participated in the five-hour fair.
Helen Wirth of Benson found the fair to be informative.
"The most helpful thing I found was in the cannery section and the emphasis on the use of food-grade diatomaceous earth for toxic control," said Wirth, while noting the fair provided another aspect of equal importance.
"I think it helps dispel fear," said Wirth. "I think fear is one of the biggest problems we have in this country; we harm ourselves with our own fear."
Tips on designing a safe shelter, setting rendezvous points for family members and storing enough food, water, medication and first-aid supplies were just a few tips offered in one-of-many pamphlets.
"Everything went really well," said Bidon. "I'm really pleased and grateful with the response and for the community's donations. We had a lot of support from the CEO (Ron McKinnon)."
Bidon said the community and local businesses and merchants kicked in $600 used for a pair of 72-hour emergency preparedness kits.
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