MEDIA ADVISORY: KALHD and KDHE to Provide "Risk Com U"
Emergency Communications Training for Local Officials

The Kansas Association of Local Health Departments (KALHD) and the Kansas Bio-terrorism Program will be training local public health, law enforcement, fire, EMS, hospital and county officials on how to work with the media during emergencies. A goal of the training is to build community teams so they can be prepared when crisis occurs.

Dubbed "Risk Com U" for "Risk Communications University," the training sessions will take place from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on these dates at the following locations:

• August 31: The Dodge House Hotel and Convention Center,
  2408 W. Wyatt Earp Blvd., Dodge City.
• September 1: Stevens County Courthouse, Memorial Hall,
  200 E. 6 th St., Hugoton
• September 2: Plaza Hotel, 1911 E. Kansas Ave., Garden City

"This training will help officials to give clear, consistent and accurate information in response to emergencies such as tornados, disease outbreaks or terrorist attacks," said Pat MacDonald, KALHD communications specialist. "In emergency situations, information provided to the public is often crucial for protecting lives and property."

The presenters of the training will be:

• Pat MacDonald, communications specialist for KALHD and former spokesperson and director of health education for the Sedgwick County Health Department.

• Mike Cameron, risk communications coordinator for the Kansas Bioterrorism Program and former spokesperson for the Kansas State Fire Marshal's Office.

• Mike Heideman, communications design specialist with the Kansas Bioterrorism Program and former spokesperson for the Kansas Department of Health and Environment

• Jennifer Keller, project director for KALHD and former spokesperson for the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services (SRS) and for Via Christi Regional Medical Center in Wichita.

Funding was provided by the Kansas Health Foundation, Wichita, Kansas. The Kansas Health Foundation is a philanthropic organization whose mission is to improve the health of all Kansans. The Kansas Association of Local Health Departments, in partnership with the Kansas Association of Counties and Kansas Department of Health and Environment, is coordinating this project.

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