The Town of Lexington Health Division Joins DPH “Together
We’re Ready” Campaign to Encourage Individuals and Families to Plan Ahead for
Emergencies Lexington Health Division (LHD) joins the Massachusetts Department
of Public Health (DPH) in promoting emergency preparedness as part of the
“Together We’re Ready – Massachusetts Prepared” campaign during Emergency
Preparedness Month this September 2014.
Developed by DPH’s Office of Preparedness
and Emergency Response in partnership with state and local agencies, “Together
We’re Ready – Massachusetts Prepared” is a public health campaign that
encourages Massachusetts residents and families to plan and prepare for severe
weather, natural disasters, infectious disease threats and other emergency
events.
“Emergencies can happen at any time as evident by recent
weather related events, such as the tornado in Revere. Taking a few simple
steps now to prepare yourself and your family will help Lexington recover more
quickly and lessen the impact to your normal schedule. Every step that we take
to prepare ourselves and our families for emergencies makes Lexington stronger
and more resilient when the unexpected happens,” said Gerard F. Cody, Health
Director for the Town of Lexington. “Now’s the time to be informed, plan ahead,
and get prepared.”
The “Together We’re Ready – Massachusetts Prepared” campaign
features online videos and resources developed by DPH. Check out the “Together
We’re Ready” web page at www.mass.gov/dph/ready where you can find more
information about individual and family preparedness, volunteer opportunities, emergency
planning for the whole community and tips for flu prevention. You can also join
the conversation on Twitter at #readyma.
In addition to the “Together We’re Ready” website, here are
other ideas to help you be prepared or to help in the recovery process:
1.) Code Red® Emergency Notification System. Code Red is
utilized by the Town of Lexington to notify residents and businesses by quickly
providing information, instructions and updates on an emerging threat or
emergency situation. It is a high speed telephone and text messaging system that
uses a combination of published white page listings. Residents and business
owners can help ensure a better response by logging on to the Town of Lexington
Code Red website,
(http://lexingtonma.gov/police/codered.cfm) to add preferred
mobile phone numbers, text numbers or email addresses. If you do not have a
traditional land line phone service, you can still participate in the Code Red
Emergency Notification System but you must log onto the website to add your
mobile phone number or email address.
2.) Join the Lexington Medical Reserve Corps (MRC): All
Lexington residents are encouraged to join the Medical Reserve Corps! LHD needs
help filling both medical and non-medical positions.
Medical professionals such as nurses, physicians,
pharmacists and other community members such as mental health professionals,
office administrators or anyone with a sense of volunteerism can fill a vital
role in the MRC. MRC members assist the Lexington Health Division fulfill various
public health roles in the community such as staffing public influenza clinics
and temporary shelter operations, assisting with distributing disease
prevention / health education messages, participating in medical waste or
household hazardous product collection events and by performing various administrative
tasks. Lexington MRC volunteers are also participants in annual public health
emergency preparedness exercises and health education seminars. To find out
more, contact Catherine M. Corkery, Regional MRC Volunteer Coordinator, MA
Region 4A, Medical Reserve Corps, by email at catherine.corkery@verizon.net or
by phone at 508-735-3566.
For more information on the statewide campaign, visit
www.mass.gov/dph/ready. For a free “Emergency Medical Info Kit”, please visit
the Office of Community Development, Health Division in the Town Office
Building at 1625 Massachusetts Avenue. If you have any questions concerning
this matter, you may contact Gerard F. Cody, REHS/RS at (781) 698-4522 or by
email at gcody@lexington.ma.
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