Request for Participants
Bioterrorism Disaster Exercise
July, 2003
The City of Austin, area hospitals, and the University of Texas, will be hosting a bioterrorism exercise on Tuesday, July 29, 2003. The goal of the exercise is to test the ability of the community response capabilities of Austin and Travis County in the event of a smallpox outbreak.
We are hoping for 350 volunteers to participate either as a mock patient, diagnosed with smallpox in a local hospital emergency room (Phase 1), or as a citizen being vaccinated for smallpox (Phase 2). You may participate either in the morning (for Phase 1) or the afternoon (for Phase 2). Volunteers of all ages are welcome.
Phase 1 of the exercise will test the smallpox detection and treatment capacity of surrounding hospitals. Starting from the LBJ Auditorium on campus, we will be sending "victims" to and from different hospitals by bus. Prior to setting out to the different hospitals, you will be given an orientation and "coached" on the type of symptoms you should simulate, and what actions are expected of you. Some willing victim volunteers will be given pretend rashes (moulage) to make the drill more realistic for responders.
Phase 2, held in the afternoon, will test vaccination capacity. Volunteers will become "citizens" awaiting "immunization." The purpose of Phase 2 is to test the timing, training, communication, logistics and ability of University of Texas personnel to immunize as many people as possible within 2 hours of the drill. There will be no actual exposure to any biological agent or actual immunization. If you're interested, here's what it entails:
1) Phase 1 registration will take place at University of Texas LBJ Auditorium at 7:00 AM on July 29. The LBJ Auditorium is located in the 2300 block of Red River. Free parking will be available in the lots directly in front of the Auditorium. Phase 1 will end at about 1:00 PM. The hospitals will provide lunch for you and will ask for feedback about your experience as a "victim". You will be brought back to the LBJ Auditorium parking lot by bus.
2) Phase 2 registration begins at 1:00 PM at the University of Texas LBJ Auditorium. As for Phase 1, free parking is available in the lots directly in front of the Auditorium. This part of the exercise should end around 5:00 PM. Before you leave, you will be asked for feedback about your experience as a volunteer.
3) Once you begin either phase of the exercise you may not leave before you are released unless you have an emergency situation arise. You must also remain in your role the entire time you are involved in the exercise.
4) You will receive a Certification of Appreciation for your involvement.
Prior to the both the morning and afternoon exercises, you will be given a briefing on the type of symptoms you should simulate, and what actions are expected of you.
Before, during, and after the event, liquids will be available to you. Restrooms will be available for your convenience.
If you've never done anything like this before, I promise you an interesting experience. An actual bioterrorism incident will be devastating ? our goal is to be as prepared as possible.
If you would like to participate, please fill out both the Registration Form
and the Volunteer Information and Release Form below. Please email
or fax (512-471-3688, Attn. Dr. Pattillo) the Registration Form to me prior to
July 25th, so we can have an accurate count. Please fax the signed Volunteer
Information and Release Form to me prior to the exercise, or bring with you to
the exercise. If you have friends or family members who might wish to
participate, the more the merrier. Although this is not a "secret"
event, we are trying to keep the exercise date and details as private as
possible - primarily to prevent the people who'll be responding, from
discovering the details in advance.
Bioterrorism Disaster Exercise - Austin, Texas
July, 2003
Registration Form
PLEASE PRINT CLEARLY:
Name: _____________________ Address: ________________________________________________
Age ________________
Telephone: _________________ Email: _________________________________________________
Organization _________________________________________
I am interested in participating in: Phase 1 (AM): q
I am interested in participating in: Phase 2 (PM): q
How did you learn about this exercise?
_____________________________________________________
Please email this form to me at mpattillo@nursing.utexas.edu, or fax to me at 512-471-3688.
If you have any questions or need additional information please feel free to
contact me by email or you may contact Lindy McGinnis at the City of Austin
Office of Emergency Management. She may be reached by telephone at 512-370-8865
or by email: lindy.mcginnis@ci.austin.tx.us.
Thank you very much for your consideration.
Marilyn Pattillo, Ph.D., RN, NP
Assistant Professor in Clinical Nursing
Chairman, Ad Hoc Committee Disaster Nurse Preparedness
The University of Texas at Austin
1700 Red River
Austin, Texas 78701
mpattillo@nursing.utexas.edu
Fax: 512 -471-3688
Campus Mail - D0100
Bioterrorism Disaster Exercise - Austin, Texas
July, 2003
Volunteer Information and Release Sheet
On behalf of the University of Texas, the City of Austin, and area hospitals, we thank you for volunteering to participate in our weapons of mass destruction terrorism exercise on July 29, 2003 at the LBJ Auditorium on the University of Texas at Austin campus. The purpose of the drill is to test the community response capabilities of Austin and Travis County in the event of a smallpox outbreak as part of Homeland Defense.
General Scenario:
You will be participating either as a mock patient, diagnosed with smallpox in a local hospital emergency room or as a citizen being vaccinated for smallpox. You may participate in the morning for Phase 1 or in the afternoon for Phase 2.
Phase 1 will be held the morning of July 29 to test the smallpox detection and treatment capacity of surrounding hospitals. Starting from the LBJ Auditorium on campus, we will be sending "victims" to and from different hospitals by bus. Prior to setting out to the different hospitals, you will be given an orientation and "coached" on the type of symptoms you should simulate, and what actions are expected of you. Some willing victim volunteers will be given pretend rashes (moulage) to make the drill more realistic for responders.
Phase 2, held in the afternoon, will test vaccination capacity. Volunteers will become "citizens" awaiting "immunization." The purpose of Phase 2 is to test the timing, training, communication, logistics and ability of UT personnel to immunize as many people as possible within 2 hours of the drill. There will be no actual exposure to any biological agent or actual immunization.
Water and restrooms will be available. You will be given a certificate of participation at the completion of the drill. During the course of the day, we will be asking for your feedback on how we can improve the process. Again, thank you for helping keep our community safe and ready.
Please fax this form to Dr. Marilyn Pattillo, UT School of Nursing at
512-471-3688 or bring with you on the day of the exercise.
Please Print Name, Sign and Date
I _______________________________________ agree to participate in the
Bioterrorism Emergency Drill on July 29, 2003. I will hold harmless the
University of Texas, City of Austin, the participating hospitals, and any other
agency or its members participating in this exercise. I understand that all
reasonable and customary safety measures will be performed to try to prevent
injury or harm to me.
Signature _________________________________ Date __________________________
Signature of parent or guardian if participant is under the age of 17:
Signature __________________________________ Date ___________________________