Preparedness

Items in the Preparedness category will cover everything from Emergency Medical Services to vaccination programs. This division at ADHS tracks contagious disease, coordinates emergency preparedness activity, licenses EMTs and Paramedics, regulates ambulance companies, authorizes special hospital designations like cardiac care center and Level IV trauma center, issues birth and death certificates, and tracks critical health data through various sources including hospital discharge information.

The “Arizona Strip” Whooping Cough Cluster

By |2017-02-10T09:50:17-07:00July 29th, 2013|Preparedness, Prevention|

Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, has been increasing in Arizona and the rest of the nation for the last few years. Pertussis usually runs in a cycle, peaking every 3-5 years and then decreasing again.  Symptoms include fits of cough, vomiting after the fits of cough, and a whooping sound during cough. Some complications include pneumonia, [...]

Yarnell Hill and Kingman Dean Fire Responses

By |2017-02-10T09:50:20-07:00July 8th, 2013|Behavioral Health, Preparedness|

With one of the worst wildfire tragedies in history happening last weekend, our Health Emergency Operations Center was active all week.  First making sure that there was enough behavioral health support through the Regional Behavioral Health Authorities, then helping provide some specific assistance to the shelters in Prescott and Wickenburg.   On Tuesday, we pulled special beds [...]

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The Rocket’s Red Glare; the Bombs Bursting in Air

By |2017-02-10T09:50:20-07:00July 2nd, 2013|Preparedness, Prevention|

For many people, Independence Day wouldn’t be complete without fireworks.  There are dozens of public fireworks shows around the state, but some people like shooting them.  You’ve probably seen the fireworks displays in local stores and may even have kids asking you to buy some. We looked at fireworks-related injuries from Arizona hospitals in the [...]

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Response to Yarnell Hill Fire and Firefighter Deaths

By |2017-02-10T09:50:20-07:00July 1st, 2013|Behavioral Health, General, Licensing, Preparedness|

We are mourning the tragic deaths of 19 firefighters at the Yarnell Hill Fire.  We're working through the Northern Arizona Regional Behavioral Health Authority to help the firefighters and community there to deal with the loss of life and the speedy evacuation in front of the fire.  The loss of most of the Granite Mountain Hot Shot team [...]

Doce Pit Fire

By |2017-02-10T09:50:22-07:00June 19th, 2013|Behavioral Health, Licensing, Preparedness|

The dry conditions in the Prescott National Forest have provided great fuel for the wildfire that started there yesterday.  You can monitor conditions on the Forest website.  And don't forget to check in with the state's Emergency Information Network. We play a significant role in response where there are wildfires in Arizona – our licensing [...]

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Families are the First First-Responders

By |2017-02-10T09:50:24-07:00May 30th, 2013|Preparedness|

Our country’s disaster preparedness system is really a matrix that starts with families and goes all the way to a coordinated federal response.  In between are local first-responders, county public health and emergency management, and state public health and emergency management.  But really- the real first first-responders are moms, dads, grandmas and grandpas and even kids.  [...]

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Successful Public Health Symposium

By |2017-02-10T09:50:24-07:00May 28th, 2013|Preparedness, Prevention|

A special thanks to our team that worked the US Public Health Service’s Scientific and Training Symposium this week.  Several of our staff hosted informative booths during the Symposium.  A special thanks to Clarisse Tsang who hosted a break out session related to newborns and Hepatitis B.  It was a special treat to have 3 Surgeon’s [...]

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SARS… A 10-Year Retrospective

By |2017-02-10T09:50:26-07:00May 10th, 2013|Preparedness|

This Spring marks 10 years since Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) arrived on the global public health scene.  It started as a mystery illness in SE Asia- without name, origin, or cure in February of 2003.  The CDC immediately began working with the World Health Organization to investigate the outbreak.  Public health scientists across the globe [...]

Measles & International Travel

By |2017-02-10T09:50:29-07:00April 30th, 2013|Preparedness, Prevention|

Guest Blog from Ken Komatsu, State Epidemiologist With over 1 billion people crossing international borders each year, vaccine preventable diseases not usually found in Arizona, can arrive at any time.  Earlier this month a young child from Pima County became ill with a rash illness while visiting Asia.  This region of the world has had [...]

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H7N9 Influenza Test Negative

By |2017-02-10T09:50:30-07:00April 26th, 2013|Preparedness|

Just as we expected, the sample that we tested for H7N9 influenza today was negative.  Thanks to our Lab team for staying a little late this evening to run the test.  Even though it was very likely to be negative from the beginning- it's still important to follow up on every lead.  After all, vigilance [...]

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