INFORMATIONAL LETTER NO: 139

 

POLICY CODE:  EBC

 

TO:                 Superintendents of Schools

 

FROM:           Susan Gendron, Commissioner, Maine Department of Education

 

DATE:            June 23, 2004

 

SUBJECT:     Emergency Preparedness School Administrative Survey

 

Please send on to principals and school nurses.

 

            The 121^st Maine Legislature passed a Resolve, Chapter 112, requiring the Department of Education to conduct a survey of schools to identify the extent to which school administrative units have medical emergency response plans in place and have developed emergency response teams composed of members who are CPR certified.  The Bureau of Health, Office of Public Health Emergency Preparedness, also plans to conduct an assessment of emergency preparedness of institutions in Maine, including schools.  In a collaborative effort, the Bureau of Health and the Department of Education have developed a single, three-part survey for schools.  The three parts include a survey for superintendents, one for principals, and one for school nurses.  

            I encourage you to participate in this important survey.  The results of this survey will be used to determine priorities in addressing the gaps in the State’s readiness to respond to emergency situations.  The survey results also will be provided to the Legislative Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs for their further consideration to assure that students have access to CPR Certified school personnel.

The Bureau of Health has developed a web-based survey format for your ease of responding.   The survey will be available on-line for you on June 7, 2004.  You will receive a letter from Dr. Dora A. Mills, Director, Bureau of Health, in the next two weeks asking you to fax a registration form to the Bureau.  You will then receive e-mail instructions for how to compete the survey.  Paper copies will be available for those without computer access.

If you have questions regarding this process, please contact Janet Austin in the Bureau of Health at 287-7310 or janet.austin@maine.gov.