Third Canadian Voice Interoperability Workshop
September 18, 2009
Registration for the Third Canadian Voice Interoperability Workshop is now open (see http://www.cacp.ca/index/eventscontent?contentId=755)! This year’s theme is “From planning to action” and the workshop program promises to be the best yet. Based on feedback at past events, this year we are expanding the Workshop to include all aspects of interoperability (previous workshops focussed on voice interoperability). In addition to core topics such as governance and planning at the local, regional, provincial, national and cross-border levels, we will also cover:
- situational awareness;
- common operating pictures;
- resource (blue force) tracking;
- geographic information system (GIS);
- data interoperability; and
- common alerting.
The range of Canadian and international speakers and the focus on strategic operations makes the Workshop the “must attend” event of the year as stakeholders continue to address one of the greatest challenges facing Canadian public safety - interoperability. In addition to sessions to further work on the Canadian Communications Interoperability Plan (CCIP) and learn about some of the best practices in use across the country, the breakout sessions are sure to provide practical, hands-on and the most current information and tools that participants will be able to apply right away. Some of the choices include:
- Interoperability Exercises - the ABC’s of running a regional tabletop
- P25 - What is it, what is it not!
- VoIP - What Strategic Risk Managers need to know
- Developing Regional SOPs - Lessons learned from the Greater Toronto Area (GTA)
- And more!
The Workshop will be held from November 15 to 18, 2009 (Sunday evening to Wednesday afternoon) at the Marriott Halifax Harbourfront in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The registration cost of $472.50 ($450, plus GST) includes all plenary sessions, Sunday evening meet and greet, Monday evening reception, three breakfasts, two lunches and five refreshment breaks. Once again, the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP) is managing the event on behalf of the Canadian Police Research Centre (CPRC), the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs (CAFC) and the Emergency Medical Services Chiefs of Canada (EMSCC). Accommodations are available at the CACP - CITIG Conference rate of $135 plus taxes per night, and a block of rooms is being held until October 12, 2009.
The first two events sold out quickly. Don’t delay as we expect to sell out again. Visit http://www.cacp.ca/index/eventscontent?contentId=755 to see more detailed information and to register on-line.
See you in Halifax!
The CITIG Team
National Outbreak Management Teleconference
May 1, 2009
EMSCC Membership Services National Outbreak Management Teleconference
Tuesday May 5th,2009
IMPORTANT ALERT
These calls will occur each Tuesday until the current Swine Influenza event is declared closed. The session will focus on sharing information and challenges and best practices amongst attendees. The call has been scheduled for Tuesday May 5th at 2:00 p.m. AST, 1:00 EST, 11:00 MST, 10:00 a.m. PST.
To join:
Call 1-877-385-4099
Pass code 21519#
This message has been posted to the EMSCC website and is available as a breaking news/alert for those who have activated this feature.
Swine Flu News Updates
May 1, 2009
April 30 (5 p.m.)
Toronto Star online:
Spike in cases of swine flu
Subhead: Number of confirmed cases in Canada climbs to 33
The first case of swine flu has been reported in Toronto. . . .
http://www.healthzone.ca/health/article/626843
Globe & Mail online
WHO stops short of declaring pandemic
Global health authorities stressed there is no evidence to suggest they
should raise the pandemic flu alert to phase 6
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090430.wflumain0430/BNStory/Front/home
Federal news briefing (4 p.m.)
Leona Aglukkag, Minister of Health, and David Butler-Jones, Chief Public Health Officer:
- The confirmed cases in Canada are mild illnesses.
- A new awareness campaign for Canadians will be launched tomorrow.
- The virus will now be referred to as H1N1.
- There is no risk of contracting the virus from pigs or pork.
Ontario Chief Medical Officer of Health*s media briefing (3 p.m.):
- All cases in Ontario involve people who travelled to Mexico recently.
- The province is still obtaining advice about the prudent use of anti-viral medications.
- So far in Ontario, the cases are mild. Anti-virals are used only for severe cases.
- Average age of Ontario cases is 22.
- Quarantining is determined on a case-by-case basis.
Rogers CityNews online
Toronto Gets First Swine Flu Case, As Canadian Total Soars To 28
The swine flu has now officially arrived in Toronto. The Ontario
government has confirmed the first case in the city - a 30-year-old man.
. . .
http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_34168.aspx
Globe & Mail online
White House aide, family may have swine flu
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090430.wobamaaidflu0430/BNStory/Front
World Health Organization
Influenza A (H1N1) - update 6
From today, WHO will refer to the new influenza virus as Influenza A (H1N1).
http://www.who.int/csr/don/2009_04_30_a/en/index.html
Associated Press
Mexico shuts nonessential services amid swine flu
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/M/MED_SWINE_FLU?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2009-04-30-13-15-34
WNED Buffalo Toronto (TV network)
Ontario Sorting Through Swine Flu Reports North of the border, it must seem like deja vu for government health officials in Metro Toronto. Six years ago, they had to deal with SARS; now, it is Swine flu. . . .
http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wned/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=1499683§ionID=1
Computer World online
If flu threat rises, CDC wants ‘pandemic coordinator’ in workplace
http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9132408&intsrc=news_ts_head
CNN online
Swine flu could jump start new drugs
Subhead: Several pharma companies have promising vaccines and anti-virals in the pipeline
http://money.cnn.com/2009/04/30/news/swine.flu.fortune/
Human Swine Influenza in Alberta
April 29, 2009
Date: April 29, 2009
To: All Staff
From: Senior Executive, Alberta Health Services
Dr. Gerry Predy, Sr. Medical Officer of Health, Alberta Health Services
RE: Human Swine Influenza in Alberta
Alberta Health and Wellness has confirmed cases of Human Swine Flu in Alberta. Nationally, a total of 13 cases have been recorded as of April 28. All of these cases are classified as mild. Currently, Alberta Health Services has increased surveillance levels and is working closely with Alberta Health and Wellness to monitor Human Swine Influenza activity in our province.
Across the province, AHS has taken the appropriate steps to implement our response plans for this situation. Locally, Emergency Operation Centres or EOCs have been activated as part of our standard practice for events such as this. These centres will assist with the streamlining of clinical directives and responses as needed.
As a healthcare worker, taking precautions to ensure the health and safety of yourself and others is part of our work environment. As always, to protect yourself from infectious disease at work, please follow routine infection prevention and control practices. Please remember to:
• wash your hands frequently
• cover your cough; and,
• stay home and inform your supervisor if you are ill. (If you have recently traveled abroad and are well, please report to work as usual).
Staff are reminded to follow the established protocols for dealing with people with cough and respiratory infections. If dealing with patients suspected of having Serious Respiratory Illness, or when performing aerosol generating procedures, N95 masks are recommended. If you have specific questions, please check with your local Infection Prevention and Control Program or local Medical Officer of Health.
Your health is a priority for Alberta Health Services. We will continue to monitor this situation and advise staff of any updates. For up-to-date information, please visit your local intranet site or www.albertahealthservices.ca.
Please share this with fellow staff members who do not have access to e-mails. Print and post on staff bulletin boards and in staff rooms.
Pandemic Alert Raised to Level 5
April 29, 2009
Interim Guidance for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems and 9-1-1 Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) for Management of Patients with Confirmed or Suspected Swine-Origin Influenza A (H1N1) Infection
For more information: http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/guidance_ems.htm
