Exhibits
The 2015 Conference Exhibit Hall is an integral part of the meeting where you will find resources and information from across the state. Through interactive displays and hands-on demonstrations, you will learn how to implement model practices that enhance capabilities to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters and emergencies. Exhibits will address one or more of the following topics through an interactive and engaging exhibit:
Below is a list of some of our exhibits. Check back often as we continue to confirm and add more exhibitors.
- Showcase a best practice in emergency or disaster response.
- Highlight a local public health initiative.
- Feature examples of how Maryland Responders can become more engaged with their Maryland Responds County Unit.
- Provide meaningful information and resources for responders.
- Promote upcoming exercise or training opportunities.
- Illustrate responder safety and health strategies.
Below is a list of some of our exhibits. Check back often as we continue to confirm and add more exhibitors.
Baltimore City Maryland Responds Unit
Jennifer Thompson & Jennifer Martin, Baltimore City Health Department
The Baltimore City Maryland Responds Unit will host a meet and greet table for Responders to learn about volunteer opportunities in Baltimore City. Responders will also be able to participate in developing new opportunities for local responders by providing feedback during the meet and greet.
Community Reception Center, Post Radiation Event
Danny Drew, Wicomico County Health Department
Through a story board, the Wicomico County Health Department will exhibit a timeline with critical partner input on the creation of a local plan and the work performed to develop a training and exercise outlook to support utilization.
Domestic Disaster Response
Robert Grill & Dr. William DuBoyce, Disaster Aid USA
The mission of Disaster Aid USA (DAUSA) is to provide immediate disaster relief and humanitarian aid, both domestically and internationally. Disaster Aid USA prides itself on “Americans helping Americans” following a domestic disaster by providing the necessities needed to aid in easing pain and suffering. The DAUSA Domestic Program has trained response team members that have the capability to respond when a disaster occurs. These team members have qualifications in several areas including emergency management, POD (point of distribution) management, mental health and stress management, emergency medical services, chainsaw and debris removal, rescue diving, and fire rescue. Disaster Aid USA will exhibit how it provides service to a community when a disaster occurs, and will describe and promote its activities. This exhibit will also provide information on how anyone can become a team member as a volunteer Disaster Response Team Member (DART) trained in disaster relief.
Emergency Preparedness Task Force - Maryland Board of Pharmacy
Janet Seeds, Maryland Board of Pharmacy
The Maryland Board of Pharmacy's exhibit will showcase how this organization's Emergency Preparedness Task Force engages pharmacists and technicians in preparation for emergencies.
Evacuation: Get Out…Ready or Not
Ericka Gray-Wylie, Northwest Hospital
In light of recent events, such as Hurricane Sandy that caused some hospitals to succumb to complete power outages due to generator failure, members of Facilities and Emergency Management at Northwest Hospital will be discussing their response, communication and knowledge of Northwest Hospital's clinical and non-clinical managerial personnel during such an event.
Harford County Health Department Emergency Preparedness
Lisa Swank, Harford County Health Department
The Harford County Health Department will present an overall view of public health emergency preparedness activities that have happened in Harford County. Free resources will be provided that offer an overview of the Incident Command System and Public Health Preparedness.
Infant Feeding in Emergencies
Jane Balkam, Notre Dame of Maryland University
Research has shown that infants and children are the most vulnerable during emergencies and that 95% of deaths result from diarrhea due to contaminated water. The safest food during an emergency is the mother's own milk. This exhibit will educate Conference attendees about the importance of breastfeeding in emergencies and how to assist new mothers who are breastfeeding.
International Critical Incident Stress Foundation- Helping Save the Heroes
Richard Barton, The International Critical Incident Stress Foundation, Inc. (ICISF)
The International Critical Incident Stress Foundation, Inc. (ICISF) “Helps Save the Heroes” by providing pre-incident education to address the mental health concerns of those who respond to disaster and crises. ICISF’s Academy of Crisis Intervention is in the forefront of delivering quality Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) training through education and training courses. CISM is designed to help individuals deal with the effects of a traumatic event or critical incident.
Maryland Insurance Administration
Mary Jo Rogers, Maryland Insurance Administration
The Maryland Insurance Administration (MIA) provides assistance to consumers, businesses and health care providers in all areas of insurance, including life, health, disability, automobile, homeowners and property. MIA produces consumer guides, rate comparisons, frequently asked questions related to various types of insurance as well as Insurance Preparedness Guides for Natural Disasters.
Maryland Responds Volunteers Help Kids Meet New Vaccination Requirements
Maggie Kunz & Cheryl Webb, Carroll County Health Department
The Carroll County Health Department will exhibit information about the two mass vaccination clinics that they offered to the public in August 2014, staffed in part by Maryland Responds Volunteers. The clinics allowed Maryland Responders to engage with the community while practicing a medical-type POD.
MEMA: Emergency Preparedness
Jessica Nussbaum, Maryland Emergency Management Agency
The Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) will exhibit information on individual and household preparedness as well as information on MEMA’s preparedness initiatives.
Montgomery County Medical Reserve Corps
Dianne Woods & Mark DeNome, Montgomery County Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response
The Montgomery County Medical Reserve Corps exhibit will provide information for Responders about how they may be utilized in Montgomery County (i.e. PODs, shelters). The exhibit will also provide population and public health data specific to Montgomery County and family and individual preparedness materials will be available.
Multi Agency Ebola Preparedness at Anne Arundel Medical Center
Patty Sherman & Denise Matteson, Anne Arundel Medical Center
Anne Arundel Medical Center's exhibit will focus on regional multi disciplinary mass biological response training for emergency management, hospitals, law enforcement, emergency medical services and public health services to prepare for a biological threat such as Ebola.
National Library of Medicine: Disaster Information Management Research Center
Elizabeth Norton, Disaster Information Management Research Center, National Library of Medicine
The National Library of Medicine's (NLM) Disaster Information Management Research Center (DIMRC) develops and provides access to free health information resources and technology for disaster preparedness, response, and recovery. Their intent is to connect people to quality disaster health information and foster a culture of community resiliency. DIMRC provides access to disaster medicine and public health literature via Disaster Lit (http://disasterlit.nlm.nih.gov) and PubMed (http://pubmed.gov). In addition, DIMRC develops emergency response tools and mobile apps including WISER, CHEMM, and REMM for hazmat and CBRN incidents. Collections of authoritative links for key disasters and types of disasters are found in their Disaster Health Topic Pages. DIMRC's exhibit will showcase apps and websites specifically designed for emergency preparedness and response and exhibit staff will help conference attendees set up a digital go-bag on their mobile phone or tablet. Attendees will also be able to view portions of an interactive ICS exercise conducted in a virtual world.
NOAA Weather-Ready Nation
Wendy Marie Thomas, NOAA/ National Weather Service (NWS)
Weather-Ready Nation (WRN) is a National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration Strategic Goal. The WRN Ambassador™ initiative is a subcomponent that helps NOAA work together with communities and institutions in building a ready, resilient and responsive nation to extreme weather, water, and climate events. NOAA staff will showcase information on this initiative and provide an outlet for the Maryland Responds community to share their weather-ready information needs in order to support the goal of a resilient Maryland.
Now Trending Website
Diana Kushner, HHS/ ASPR/ OEM/ Fusion
The Now Trending website, created as a result of ASPR’s 2012 Now Trending: #Health in my Community challenge competition, was designed to allow Federal, State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial public health practitioners to track Twitter trends in illnesses. It filters open source Twitter data for illness and natural disaster topics. The site can be used to track the overall trend in Twitter chatter on a range of illnesses and disaster topics to see if there are any spikes in conversation. The site also allows users to view the data by geographic location to see if there is increased conversation about a topic in an area of interest. The website allows users to export data and trends from the site to common computer applications and links out to other health reporting sites to cross reference data.
Pathway to Preparedness
Edward Johnson & Cathy O'Neill, Maryland Department of Health & Mental Hygiene, Office of Preparedness and Response
The Office of Preparedness and Response will provide attendees with disaster preparedness information and will have a family preparedness kit on display.
QAC Employee Emergency Handbook and Vulnerable Population Preparedness Initiative
Connie Ralph and Gail Lundberg, Queen Anne's County Health Department
Queen Anne's County Health Department will be exhibiting information on their Employee Emergency Handbook and their new Vulnerable Population Preparedness Initiative.
The Queen Anne's County Employee Emergency Handbook was specifically developed for the local department of health employees. It is a guide that covers such items as emergency notifications, communication devices, facility safety, all hazards, public health preparedness and more. It is given out to all new employees and is used as part of an annual training/self learning module.
The Vulnerable Population Preparedness Initiative (VPPI) is a new venture that will begin in the spring of 2015. The Emergency Preparedness program will partner with the Mobile Integrated Community Health (MICH) pilot program and the Adult Evaluation and Referral Services (AERS) programs to distribute preparedness information and limited supplies to both program's participants as a way to connect with vulnerable persons in the community. This exhibit will also display examples of emergency preparedness supplies which will be given out to participants of this initiative in Queen Anne's County.
The Queen Anne's County Employee Emergency Handbook was specifically developed for the local department of health employees. It is a guide that covers such items as emergency notifications, communication devices, facility safety, all hazards, public health preparedness and more. It is given out to all new employees and is used as part of an annual training/self learning module.
The Vulnerable Population Preparedness Initiative (VPPI) is a new venture that will begin in the spring of 2015. The Emergency Preparedness program will partner with the Mobile Integrated Community Health (MICH) pilot program and the Adult Evaluation and Referral Services (AERS) programs to distribute preparedness information and limited supplies to both program's participants as a way to connect with vulnerable persons in the community. This exhibit will also display examples of emergency preparedness supplies which will be given out to participants of this initiative in Queen Anne's County.
Road to Readiness
Tasha Henderson, Maryland Responds Medical Reserve Corps
Complete the steps to reach Ready Responder status at the Maryland Responds Road to Readiness exhibit. Here you will be able to check your MDResponds profile, submit forms, update your training profile and take your ID badge photo. We will be launching our new Ready Responder kit at the conference this year. The Ready Responder kit contains Responder essentials such as an ID badge, uniform, go-bag, water bottle, field guides, and more! All Maryland Responders who reach Ready Responder status prior to attending the conference will be able to pick up their Ready Responder kit at the Road to Readiness exhibit. Are you eligible to pick up a Ready Responder kit? Check your Responder status >
2-1-1 Maryland
James Macgill & Sue Vaeth, 2-1-1 Maryland, Inc.
2-1-1 Maryland is a 3-digit phone number for people looking for information and resources for health and human services, and is a partner in emergency management. 211 has an MOU with MEMA through which rumor information is related to MEMA, and its 4 call centers have or are working toward agreements with their local emergency managers. 2-1-1 Maryland is also engaged with DHMH via the Office of Emergency Preparedness and Response. During emergencies, such as hurricanes, 211 staff search local emergency management information via social media and other methods to ensure they have the latest information to provide to callers. 2-1-1's exhibit will provide information on this organization's role during disasters and recovery.