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 Bioterrorism 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 session will take place from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on December 3, 2004, at the following location:

• Capitol Plaza Hotel, Emerald Ballroom
  1717 S.W. Topeka Blvd., Topeka, KS

"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 specialist for the Kansas Bioterrorism Program and former spokesperson for the Kansas State Fire Marshal's Office.

• Mike Heideman, Communication Design Specialist for 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.

Kansas Association of Counties and the Kansas Health Foundation are sponsoring the training, which is provided for free to participants. 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 the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, is coordinating this project.

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