New York University’s College of Dentistry (NYUCD), a National Disaster Life Support ™ (NDLS™) Training Center, will be participating with the American Medical Association (AMA) by holding an awareness session to help citizens become more prepared in crisis situations on Tuesday, September 13, 2011, from 3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. at New York University (NYU) College of Dentistry, Saklad Auditorium, 1st Floor, 345 East 24th Street, NYC.
Dr. David Glotzer, a clinical professor of cariology and comprehensive care at NYUCD with a background in the military, will be presenting opening remarks. Dr. Glotzer heads NYUCD’s efforts to define a role for dentists in a public health surge response to a major disaster situation, including developing a disaster preparedness curriculum for DDS students and an emergency management plan for dental offices, seeking training opportunities for students and faculty, and participating in a DHS grant with the NYU School of Medicine.
The session, which is free and open to the public and includes dinner, is being given to help people prepare for public health emergencies and disasters like the recent hurricane that hit the East Coast. For questions regarding this session or to RSVP, please call (888) 627-5895 or email CitizenReady@ama-assn.org.
“In the wake of Hurricane Irene, we’re reminded that when disaster strikes, communities benefit greatly from having a trained and informed citizenry,” said Dr. Glotzer. “CitizenReady® sessions encourage people to play a more active role in protecting the safety and health of themselves and their families in emergency situations.”
As part of the AMA CitizenReady® program, the presentation will focus on “personal preparedness,” which includes the importance of having a household disaster plan, critical items to include in an emergency supply and first aid kit, and why specific documents are important to bring in the case of a rapid evacuation. Particular emphasis is placed on having a list of health care and emergency contacts and access to critical health information and medications, especially for those with chronic illnesses. All of the information provided is aimed at helping individuals to be proactive in protecting their safety and health, so that medical resources can be directed to those in greatest need in a disaster or public health emergency.
CitizenReady® is a standardized, national disaster health education program that can help individuals be better prepared in disasters and public health emergencies. The AMA is providing this program free of charge and is coordinating these awareness sessions with the ten-year remembrance activities of September 11, 2001.