Emergency planning linked to WTO conference

Harborview Medical Center, UW Medical Center, and several other Seattle area hospitals are among many agencies participating in emergency preparedness for the Third Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization (WTO). The Nov. 30 to Dec. 3 conference in Seattle is expecting representatives from 134 member countries and 34 observer nations.

Federal, county and city emergency personnel have strategies against several forms of terrorism. This readiness is routine for major international meetings or large national political gatherings in the United States. The probability of an attack is very low.

“We expect there will be no problems,” said Dr. Mickey Eisenberg, professor of medicine and director of Emergency Services at UW Medical Center. “We see this meeting as good opportunity to learn how to respond to unusual occurrences and be better prepared for unforeseen events.”

Seattle and many other U.S. cities began taking precautions against terrorism some time ago as part of a national effort. The trade conference has speeded up Seattle’s plan.

Harborview Medical Center (HMC) will be the local command center. The back-up control center is at a hospital outside the city.

Emergency, medical and nursing personnel have been educated on national approaches to bioterrorism, surveillance epidemiology, and clinical management of persons exposed to biological or chemical agents. ¶