Findlay, Ohio, Oct. 29, 2001 — The University of Findlay’s Center for Terrorism Preparedness has been designated as a Center for Public Health Preparedness for Bioterrorism and Emerging Health Threats by the Centers for Disease Control.

UF’s center is one of only 14 nationwide named as Centers for Public Health Preparedness. As part of this national system, the University’s Center for Terrorism Preparedness develops and maintains emergency response training for acts of terrorism involving nuclear, chemical and biological weapons of mass destruction, or bioterrorism. The Center offers hands-on, practical-based education, tabletop training exercises, online classrooms and consultation services for hospital emergency room personnel, doctors, nurses and administrators serving underserved populations.

In offering this all-hazards approach, the front line will be prepared to respond in a community-wide, coordinated, integrated approach for any wide-scale naturally occurring disease outbreak or emerging public health threat. An estimated 500,000 physicians, nurses, environmental health scientists, health educators, laboratory workers, managers and others are in need of training.

Started in 1999, the Center for Terrorism Preparedness is part of UF’s National Center of Excellence for Environmental Management. The training addresses the state-of-the-art concepts related to preparation, management and coordination of the response to a terrorist incident. This effort builds on the outstanding program in environmental, safety and health management already developed at UF.

More information on the Center for Terrorism Preparedness is available at http://gcampus.findlay.edu/nceem/terrorism.asp.