Bioterrorism Training

Pocatello

Tools

Story Published: Mar 12, 2008 at 5:00 PM MST

Story Updated: Mar 12, 2008 at 3:49 PM MST

By Sarah Schwabe

Health experts in the South Valley are also undergoing training, but for a different type of threat. They are preparing in case of a bioterrorist attack. Channel 3 Eyewitness News Reporter Sarah Schwabe has the story.

Health care workers are learning how to deal with the emotional trauma associated with a terrorist attack.

"Hopefully it will never happen, but if it does, we'll be prepared," says project coordinator Barbara Cunningham.

Inside this classroom at Idaho State University, local health care workers, along with students and faculty are preparing in case of a bioterrorist attack.

"Some of the most severe effects from the disasters themselves were the psychological events," says research professor Neill Piland.

In fact, an attack usually leaves more people emotionally scarred, than physically hurt.

"Psychological it's hidden, you don't have a big gaping wound where as with a psychological, you can cover it up," says Cunningham.

So they are learning how to spot the warning signs of psychological trauma. It's part of ISU's Bioterrorism Awareness and Preparedness Project. The speaker giving the presentation is actually in Maryland, and this group, along with people in Washington, Oregon and around the state are listening in, to better prepare themselves in case disaster strikes.

"It helps to know what's going on with the psyche for all the things that are going to impact the community," says local psychologist Virginia Galizia.

ISU's Bioterrorism training will continue next Wednesday. Health experts will be discussing how to prepare private practices to handle an emergency situation.

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