|
RESERVE BANK STAFF GIVEN BIRDFLU EMERGENCY BAG
(New Zealand Press Association Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge)Wellington, Jan 16 NZPA - Reserve Bank staff have been given medical face masks, hand-gel, gloves and tissues in an ``emergency bag'' distributed for use in the event of an influenza pandemic.
The backpacks were given to the bank's 210 staff last August and have now been updated to include the pandemic-related items.
Reserve Bank spokesman Mike Hannah said today the emergency bags predated the bank's pandemic preparations.
``They're designed to assist us in the event of things like an earthquake, tsunami or severe floods where we are unable to leave the building or the Wellington CBD for one to three days,'' he told NZPA.
Being based in Wellington, the most common concern for Reserve Bank staff was earthquakes.
Staff are expected to add their own shoes, food and any medicine they may need to the backpacks which also contain a light stick, plastic sanitation bag, water bottle, whistle, wind and waterproof matches, survival blanket, water purification tables, a torch and survival instructions.
The Reserve Bank also holds food and water supplies which were instigated by former governor, National Party leader Don Brash.
Meanwhile, a radio campaign promoting pandemic preparation began today.
The advertisements have been created by Radio New Zealand (RNZ), which is a ``lifeline utility'' under the Civil Defence and Emergency Act.
RNZ spokesman John Barr said the public broadcaster initiated the campaign which was developed in conjunction with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Economic Development.
RNZ had made the advertisements available to other radio stations.
``This is part of a service we feel we can offer as a public service broadcaster,'' he told NZPA.
The advertisements stress that although there is no influenza pandemic at present, New Zealand health authorities are seriously planning for the possible pandemic in the future.
The campaign gives people basic information and simple practical steps to reduce the impact of an influenza outbreak.
The campaign is being aired on National Radio, Concert FM, Access Radio and various ethnic stations.
Last year's television advertisements will be followed with a second campaign which is expected to start in March.
NZPA WGT dl ob nb
[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
|
Find Solutions for Enterprises, SMBs & Service Providers at the INTERNET TELEPHONY Conference and EXPO West, September 16-18, 2008. Los Angeles, California.
