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9/11

Public Health as First Responders

by Tonya Peters on November 9, 2009

For a very long time, only those in fire fighter, medical or police uniforms were viewed as first responders for emergency or disaster situations – and the organizational chart at a public health department didn’t contain a branch of emergency planning/response personnel. Just as behaviors change, so did the visible landscape of first response. 

Public health has always served as the “silent protector” of a community’s health (broadly defined) but since the tragic events of September 11, 2001, public health has gained a more visible and essential presence amongst its local partners. What about the average local resident? Do they really understand the role of public health during times of emergency?

As national health threats such as terrorism and communicable diseases like H1N1 force all of us to pay closer attention to authorities such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), we might have a better idea about public health and emergency preparedness, but does it translate to us locally? It should.

In 2006, Worldways Social Marketing worked with the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) to develop an identity for local public health to raise awareness about these local heroes.  Maybe someday Fisher Price Little People will add a Public Health Professional Polly Kracker to their world so children will grow up putting her next to Firefighter Dale Matian and Police Captain Shep Barker.

National Identity for Local Public Health

National Identity for Local Public Health

Tagged as: 9/11, community, Emergency planning, Emergency Response Personnel, H1N1

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Social Media Helps Us To Remember

by Jess Colon-Polk on September 11, 2009

This morning I woke up to drive in rush hour traffic, almost not even aware of what day it was, when I saw a flag at half mast. As I looked at my phone to see the time, I realized it was Friday, September 11.

Quickly, my mind turned to that day, eight years ago. I was at my college, waiting for the doors to open outside of the Journalism lecture hall. As usual, there were televisions broadcasting news everywhere in the Journalism building, and I barely paid attention to them as I was usually catching up on last minute reading before class.

As the doors opened, and I entered class, there was the giant screen, with the image of the second plane crashing into the Twin Towers.

It was dead silent and I was in complete shock.

Like me, many Americans remember exactly where they were that day, what they were wearing, who they were with – and social media is giving all of us a chance to share our memories, accounts of lost loved ones and experiences that happened eight years ago today.

On Twitter (Twitter), numerous hashtags are being used to remember 9/11. I encourage all of us to remember, share and join together in remembering those who lost their lives, and those (like many of us who were young) that lost a big part of their innocence that day. Here are some of the most popular hastags of the day:

#whereiwas is being used to share accounts of where tweeters were when the attacks occured

#remember911 is a tag for sharing memories, opinions, sentiments and general feelings

#neverforget is being used to remember those who lost their lives on that fateful day.

Tagged as: 9/11, rememberance, social media, twitter

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Remember Today, Plan for Tomorrow

by Monica Strachan on September 11, 2009

Today, we remember that fateful day eight years ago when our country was attacked. So many lives were lost and if it hadn’t been for the many first responders that responded quickly and appropriately, we may have lost many more people.

September has been named Emergency Preparedness Month (http://www.ready.gov/america/npm09/). Since 9/11/01, many communities and agencies have been preparing for emergencies such as terrorist attacks, natural disasters , pandemic flu and the current threat of H1N1. Please educate and prepare yourself and your family by visiting resources like ready.gov and flu.gov.

Today, let us all remember 9/11 and be thankful for all those that gave their lives.  Also take the time to plan and make sure your family and workplace has an emergency plan in place. We can’t predict what is coming therefore we need to do what we can to be prepared!

Tagged as: 9/11, Emergency preparedness, health, Remembrance

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