Health System promotes Spring PrepareAthon activities

UAB Health System helps faculty and staff be ready for emergencies during Spring PrepareAthon.

preparathonAs part of National PrepareAthon Day on April 30, UAB Health System Emergency Management offers mini-presentations for faculty and staff on recognizing and responding to disasters and emergencies, along with a UAB Police-led Active Shooter Training course during April.

“Spring is another opportunity to raise awareness about preparedness for disasters and emergencies,” said Jvann Martin, director, Health System Facilities and Emergency Management. “Sometimes, health care professionals can become so involved in helping others, they may forget about the importance of self-preservation and emergency preparedness, so we are using the month of April to promote and educate staff, families and visitors on emergency preparedness activities on a personal level.” 

Mini-presentations on improving emergency awareness through prevention, mitigation and response will be offered every half hour from 8 a.m.-noon and 1:30-5 p.m. Thursday, April 28, in the Kirklin Clinic’s fifth floor conference room, and then again Friday, April 29, from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. at the West Pavilion Conference Center, Room G.

Faculty and staff will have an opportunity to spin the “wheel of preparedness” to see just how much they know about natural disasters, technologic catastrophes and human-caused threats. Emergency Management staff will also be available to assist with weather radio programming and downloading emergency apps. Participants will be eligible to win door prizes including weather radios and preparedness kits.

Active Shooter Training will be available at 9 a.m. April 29 at the West Pavilion Conference Center’s Room E and via Skype in the Media Center at UAB Highlands from officers with the UAB Police Department.

“We are asking faculty and staff to accept the Emergency Awareness Challenge on April 28 and 29 by downloading two apps to their smart devices,” Martin said. “One is an emergency weather app, www.alabamasaftnet.com, and the other is UAB’s personal protection app, Rave Guardian, available at www.uab.edu/emergency.