Analysis of 911 Calls and Emergency Medical Service Logs as Part of a Contamination Warning System for Drinking Water
作为饮用水污染预警系统的一部分 对911电话和紧急医疗服务日志进行分析
Through the Water Security Initiative, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) worked with the City of Cincinnati, Ohio, to deploy a contamination
warning system pilot. The Cincinnati pilot leveraged the following public health surveillance data streams
as part of the contamination warning system: 911 calls; emergency medical service logs; over-the-counter
drug sales; Poison Control Center calls; emergency room chief complaints; and, infectious disease
reporting. If an alarm is generated through one of these systems, the local health departments work collaboratively with Greater Cincinnati Water Works (GCWW) utility staff to conduct an investigation to
determine whether or not the public health alarm is related to drinking water contamination. This paper presents a preliminary analysis of 911 call and emergency medical service data generated
through the baseline or preliminary testing phase of the Cincinnati pilot public health surveillance
component. The process for investigation of alarms, including the communication and coordination
between the pilot utility, Greater Cincinnati Water Works, and local health departments is also discussed. Includes 5 references, figures.