Tabletop Exercise Meningitis Outbreak

Texas School Safety Center www.txssc.txstate.edu

Tabletop ExerciseMeningitis OutbreakDivision for Law Enforcement, Homeland Security, and Institutional Research


Rules of the Road

Creativity/Group Problem Solving Use the knowledge and information

available in the room Active Thinking Active Listening Active Participation Respect – challenge ideas, not people Reality Check – make the exercise real for

you


Agenda

Introductions Scenario Description Hot Wash (Debrief) Action Planning


Introductions


The Exercise Continuum

Drills Tabletop Exercises Functional Exercises Full-Scale Exercises


What is a tabletop exercise?

Simulates an emergency situation in an informal, stress-free environment

Initiates discussion of emergency guidelines

Focuses on training and familiarization with roles, guidelines, and responsibilities


How does a tabletop exercise work?

Scenario-based discussion, guided by a facilitator

Problems talked through without stress Evaluators selected to observe and offer

feedback on the proceedings Policies, plans, and guidelines are

updated


What determines the success of a tabletop?

A successful tabletop leaves participants with: A positive learning experience Organizational learning Improvement action planning More effective policies, plans, and guidelines Improved preparedness


Exercise Guidelines (Continued)

_____ISD/college policy shall govern all activities relating to the emergency event.

The facilitator shall serve as the exercise referee and will provide any official interpretation of the exercise rules.

Although we will not actually be contacting them, ISD/college and outside resources are available to assist you.


Exercise Guidelines

This exercise is designed to test the preparedness of the _____ to respond to a multi-agency, multi-site emergency event.

Following the exercise, there will be a debriefing time or “Hot Wash”.

Each participant will be given the opportunity to share his/her views on what worked well and what needs to be addressed in additional planning, training and/or drilling.


Exercise Guidelines (Continued)

From time to time, there will be injections to the scenario. These are intended to further assess response to the exercise scenario.

This is a learning experience.


Purpose

To examine current policies, procedures, resources and actions in the context to a response to a meningitis outbreak in a school/college setting

To promote greater understanding and ability to apply NIMS/ICS principles in a college setting

To make improvements as identified as an outcome of the exercise


Objectives

To evaluate policies and procedures To evaluate command and control

including communications procedures To identify resources needed vs. available To identify training needs To indentify needed improvements and

create an action plan to address those needs


Background

_____ school/college has a student population of _____

The college has a large commuter population and a residential population of _____

The college is located in a rural/urban setting Campus police/security operations include

_____ Campus health operations include _____


Scenario

A student has reported to a staff member that they are feeling sick. The student tells her that the symptoms exhibited include: Fever Nausea Headache Stiff Neck


Questions

What does the staff member need to know?

How do they find the information? What action do they take? What does your EOP direct? What are you going to do?


Scenario – Inject #1(20 minutes later)

The student has developed a pinpoint rash The nurse suspects either bacterial or viral

meningitis The student immediately sought health

care at their physician Lab work is conducted to determine if this

is a case of meningitis or common flu


Questions

What do you need to know? How do you find the information? What does your EOP direct? What are you going to do? Who has local public health authority? What policies address school relationship

with Public Health?


Scenario – Inject #2 The public health authority reports back

that the student has been positively diagnosed with Meningococcal meningitis

The student has been isolated at the local hospital and is receiving antibiotics

The student lived on campus

Note: If your campus has no on-campus housing conduct the tabletop exercise accordingly


Questions

What do you need to know? How do you find the information? What does your EOP direct? What are you going to do?


Scenario – Inject #3

A second student is exhibiting symptoms of meningitis

It is found that this student was on a field trip with the first student a couple of days prior

The students, faculty, staff, parents, and community are concerned and want information

The local press is seeking information via email, telephone, and personal visits to campus


Questions

What actions will you take? Do you activate your college incident

command? What is your ICS structure?


ICS Structure Questions

Who is the Incident Commander? Who is the Public Information Officer? Who is the Liaison Officer? Who is the Operations Chief? How will you incorporate medical

services? What other ICS positions will you activate

and who will fill them?


Final Update

The first student with meningitis is showing signs of improvement

The second student is hospitalized and is receiving treatment

There have not been any additional suspected meningitis cases reported


Questions

What do you need to know? How do you find the information? What does your EOP direct? What is your ICS team going to do?


Hot Wash

How well did your EOP operate and what actions will you take toward improvement?

How well did your ICS Team operate and what actions will you take toward improvement?

How well did your Communications Plan operate and what actions will you take toward improvement?


Hot Wash

What internal divisions were required to work together in this scenario?

What external agencies did the Liaison Officer need to work with in this scenario?

Are all necessary agreements in place to facilitate cooperation among agencies?


Hot Wash

What can be done to improve campus health and wellness operations?

What role did community education play? What can be done to improve the

knowledge and capabilities of students, faculty, and staff as it relates to this scenario?


Action Plan

The lessons learned during this table top exercise will lead to a college action plan to:

Keep Doing _____ Stop Doing _____ Start Doing _____


Conclusion

The Texas School Safety Center, Higher Education Division is available for:

Training/Facilitation Technical Assistance Information


Contact Us

Web:

www.txssc.txstate.edu

Phone:

877-304-2727

Documents

Tabletop Exercise Meningitis Outbreak