SNS: National stockpile awaits pull of the trigger
SNS: National stockpile awaits pull of the trigger
Training available to improve dispensing
The following answers to commonly asked questions about the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) were developed from information provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
What is the SNS and why is it needed?
An act of terrorism or a large scale natural disaster targeting the U.S. civilian population will require rapid access to large quantities of pharmaceuticals and medical supplies. Such quantities may not be readily available unless special stockpiles are created. No one can anticipate exactly where a terrorist will strike and few state or local governments have the resources to create sufficient stockpiles on their own. Therefore, a national stockpile has been created as a resource for all.
The SNS is a national repository of antibiotics, chemical antidotes, antitoxins, life-support medications, IV administration, airway maintenance supplies, and medical/surgical items. The SNS is designed to supplement and re-supply state and local public health agencies in the event of a national emergency anywhere and at anytime within the U.S. or its territories.
The SNS is organized for flexible response. The first line of support lies within the immediate response 12-hour Push Packages. These are caches of pharmaceuticals, antidotes, and medical supplies designed to provide rapid delivery of a broad spectrum of assets for an ill-defined threat in the early hours of an event. These Push Packages are positioned in strategically located, secure warehouses ready for immediate deployment to a designated site within 12 hours of the federal decision to deploy SNS assets.
If the incident requires additional pharmaceuticals and/or medical supplies, follow-on vendor managed inventory (VMI) supplies will be shipped to arrive within 24 to 36 hours. If the agent is well defined, VMI can be tailored to provide pharmaceuticals, supplies and/or products specific to the suspected or confirmed agent(s). In this case, the VMI could act as the first option for immediate response from the SNS Program.
How were the SNS supplies initially determined and how are they maintained?
To determine and review the composition of the SNS Program assets, the CDC considers many factors, such as current biological and/or chemical threats, the availability of medical materiel, and the ease of dissemination of pharmaceuticals. One of the most significant factors in determining SNS composition, however, is the medical vulnerability of the U.S. civilian population. The SNS Program ensures that the medical materiel stock is rotated and kept within potency shelf-life limits. This involves quarterly quality assurance/ quality control checks on all 12-hour Push Packages, annual 100% inventory of all 12-hour Push Package items, and inspections of environmental conditions, security, and overall package maintenance.
When and how is the SNS deployed?
The decision to deploy SNS assets may be based on evidence showing the overt release of an agent that might adversely affect public health. It is more likely, however, that subtle indicators, such as unusual morbidity and/or mortality identified through the nation's disease outbreak surveillance and epidemiology network, will alert health officials to the possibility (and confirmation) of a biological or chemical incident or a national emergency. To receive SNS assets, the affected state's governor's office will directly request the deployment of the SNS assets from CDC or HHS. HHS, CDC, and other federal officials will evaluate the situation and determine a prompt course of action.
How can I find out more about training and education on deploying the SNS?
The SNS Program is part of a nationwide preparedness training and education program for state and local health care providers, first responders, and governments (e.g., federal officials, governors' offices, state and local health departments, and emergency management agencies). This training not only explains the SNS Program's mission and operations, it alerts state and local emergency response officials to the important issues they must plan for in order to receive, secure, and distribute SNS assets. To conduct this outreach and training, CDC and SNS Program staff are currently working with public health agencies and regional emergency response coordinators throughout the country.
For more information on SNS training go to http://www.bt.cdc.gov/stockpile/.
The following answers to commonly asked questions about the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) were developed from information provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Subscribe Now for Access
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