New interactive CASPER map makes it easier to tap into the experience of others
Posted on byTo Tap into the Experience of Others
Are you a public health practitioner who focuses on environmental disaster preparedness, or health assessment after an event? If so, take advantage of a new Web-based Interactive Map of CASPERs. The online map features states that have used – or are using — the Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response (CASPER), which is one of CDC’s key disaster epidemiology tools.
The new map makes it easy to click on to individual states and learn the type of CASPER a state has conducted, and to get more information from experienced practitioners if you want to reach out to them.
“The CASPER website and the new map work together as a response to some of the most common questions we have received over the years — such as what kind of CASPERs did other states conduct? How can I implement a CASPER? What did the report look like when the project was finished?” said Amy Schnall, MPH, an epidemiologist and CDC’s lead CASPER trainer.
“Over the years, HSBs training activities for CASPERs and our assistance with conducting CASPERs have produced a strong community of practice,” Schnall said. “We are hoping the web site can provide an easy-to-access way to get answers to common questions.”
We hope that CASPER users – and potential users – will take advantage of the map’s features along with other CASPER information on the web site,” she said. Schnall has 8 years of experience with the Health Studies Branch (HSB) in CDC’s National Center for Environmental Health, Division of Environmental Hazards and Health Effects.
This new online tool is just one more resource CDC is offering around environmental disaster preparedness and recovery. HSB focuses on many aspects of disaster epidemiology, including surveillance, rapid needs assessment, environmental outbreak investigation, and preparedness. . The Branch welcomes the opportunity to work closely with public health departments at state, local, tribal, and territorial levels, as well as their stakeholders and partners. HSB provides technical assistance upon request and routinely shares information and knowledge learned from public health officials across the country to help others apply these skills.
For more information, visit our full CASPER website or contact Amy Schnall, aschnall@cdc.gov, (770)-488-3422. For an overview of CASPER training, see the CASPER Online Training Tool.
Tweet this: “Know your #CASPERs? Check out #CDC’s interactive map http://1.usa.gov/1Ubb3Fl to learn more.#CDCEHblog via @CDCEnvironment”
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