On Monday morning, we should learn how well prepared the University of Cincinnati is for a major disaster.
If you're coming to UC for classes or to work on Monday, you probably won't notice any difference as the Tri-State's largest university starts a major disaster drill at 8 a.m.
But in Scioto Hall, just off Martin Luther King Drive, emergency officials, department heads and health officials will be gathering to go over how the University of Cincinnati, and the rest of the Tri-State, responds to a potential disaster.
One of the disasters they'll be planing for is a mass outbreak of the H1N1 Flu virus on campus and in the community.
Already, dozens of cases of the new H1N1 'Swine' Flu strain are being reported at UC and at all other Tri-State college campuses.
At some schools, emergency plans have already been put into action. Both Xavier and Miami universities are isolating infected students in particular buildings to try to reduce any spread of the new virus.
Ohio State Representative Dale Mallory will oversee the emergency preparations during a special round table discussion of H1N1 precautions.
Among the possible items on the agenda: how to get doses of the new H1N1 Flu vaccine out to as many students as possible, since their age puts them at higher risk for possible complications.
And, when the new flu vaccine becomes available next month, we will all have to make a decision. Do we take the H1N1 swine flu vaccine?
In addition to full background on the new flu virus, I've written an article outlining some things you and your family need to know.
Read the article, and others like it, on our new site CincySchoolZone.com.
