News

U California Videos Offer Disaster Preparedness Lessons

• By Dian Schaffhauser
• 10/09/09

The University of California (UC) system has prepared a four-part video series that is being broadcast on its public Web site to address disaster preparedness, including how to react in the event of earthquakes, fires, floods, and pandemics.

Each installment of "Disaster Preparedness for Health Professionals" covers a different topic, including natural disasters, chemical and biological agents, pandemic influenza and other emerging infections, and disaster volunteerism. The programs use expert interviews, case studies, archival footage, and conversations with experienced emergency responders to apply lessons learned from past disasters to likely future events.

Host John Blossom, professor of clinical family and community medicine at UC San Francisco and co-host Christian Sandrock, professor in critical care medicine and infectious diseases at UC Davis Medical Center, visit with health care providers and disaster response experts from universities, hospitals, and government agencies throughout California. The featured experts represent organizations involved in disaster preparedness and response efforts in the state, including California Health and Human Services Agency, Center for Infectious Diseases and Emergency Readiness at UC Berkeley, California Emergency Medical Services Authority, California Poison Control System, and the United States military.

The programs are also available as audio and video podcast downloads and are being broadcast through Dish Network (channel 9412) and cable.

Funding for the series was provided by multiple sources, including the federal Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, the Health Resources and Services Administration's Bureau of Health Professions, and the UC Statewide Area Health Education Center Program.