Kevin Westcott
emd@swanzeynh.gov
Cell: 860-808-6170
Deputy Emergency Management Director
Pam Fortner
pfortner@swanzeynh.gov
603-313-6571
Public Health Emergency Information
Cheshire Medical Center
Cheshire Public Health Network Coordinator
354-5454 ext. 2130
The Keene All Health Hazard Region (KAHHR) planning group is planning actions so that southwest New Hampshire will swiftly and effectively respond to and recover from a public health emergency. Public Health emergencies differ from more common disasters (i.e. ice storm, flood, fire) in both scope and duration. A public health emergency is defined as an event that affects the public's health: a highly contagious disease, for example, or a natural disaster, or bioterrorism. A public health emergency could last days or months. It might affect only a specific town, or an entire country.
Every community member is equally vulnerable. We might expect worker shortages due to illness or caring for a family member. Ill patients and worried citizens might overwhelm healthcare providers. The region might open an Acute Care Center (ACC) to manage overflow from medical facilities. The region might open Points of Distribution clinics (PODs) to quickly provide medications to citizens. In addition, we might impose isolation or quarantine orders. And we might need expanded morgue facilities to process higher-than-normal numbers of deaths.
The dedicated KAHHR planning group considered each of these issues and customized a response to suit our region's needs. No single municipality has the resources to mange a health emergency by itself. The remedy is advance planning and combining resources from towns, medical, and social service organizations so that the region provides a powerful response.
The Cheshire Public Health Network coordinates the region's preparedness planning with advice from the planning team of representatives from: the Towns of Alstead, Chesterfield, Fitzwilliam, Gilsum, Harrisville, Hinsdale, Keene, Marlborough, Marlow, Nelson, Richmond, Roxbury, Stoddard, Sullivan, Surry, Swanzey, Troy, Walpole, Westmoreland, and Winchester; Cheshire Medical Center; Home Health Care, Hospice & Health Community Services (HCS); local chapters of the American Red Cross and Monadnock United Way; Monadnock Family Service (MFS); Keene State College; SAUs; employees from the NH Departments of Health and Human Services, and Homeland Security/Emergency Management; and other agencies.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding how the region is preparing for a public health emergency, please contact the Cheshire Public Health Network Coordinator at 354-5454 ext. 2130.
SPECIAL MEDICAL NEEDS REGISTRATION FORM
