Volunteers needed for Drill Exercise in the Town of Hyde Park on May 1st
Poughkeepsie… The Dutchess County Department of Behavioral & Community Health (DCBCH) seeks volunteers of all abilities to take part in a coordinated medical countermeasure drill exercise on Tuesday, May 1st at 9:30 a.m. in the Town of Hyde Park at the Hyde Park Elementary School, 4327 Albany Post Road (Route 9).
The exercise will simulate a disease outbreak, and volunteers will be asked to play the role of patients exposed to the disease and walk through the scenario several times each to test the department’s communication, accommodations for those with special needs, language support, medication storage and the provision of medications to affected individuals.
As this is a drill, no real toxin will be present, and no medication will be given to any volunteer.
“This exercise will give us another opportunity to ‘ThinkDIFFERENTLY,’ as we ensure that we are able in case of an emergency in our community to meet the needs of individuals with special needs, as well as those who speak a language other than English,” said DBCH Commissioner A.K. Vaidian, MD, MPH.
Individuals interested in volunteering can contact the Department of Behavioral & Community Health by April 27th at HealthInfo@DutchessNY.gov or (845) 486-3534.
Established in 2015, the “ThinkDIFFERENTLY” initiative seeks to change the way individuals, businesses, organizations and communities relate to individuals with special needs. Following Dutchess County’s example, more than 95 municipalities throughout New York State have passed “ThinkDIFFERENTLY” resolutions, committing to create a more inclusive and supportive environment for individuals of all abilities.
