Health
Postal workers could become foot soldiers in the war against terrorism
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted March 15, 2004
Mail carriers could be called upon to deliver antibiotics door to door in the event of a catastrophic incident in which their rapid deployment is necessary, according to a plan under development by the U.S. Postal Service, the Dept. of Health and Human Services and the Dept. of Homeland Security.
The plan would supplement the public health system and would augment, not replace, local plans, according to a Feb. 18 announcement.
The Postal Service was approached because of its extensive delivery reach and the trust its carriers have in the nation's neighborhoods, according to officials. Individual postal employee participation would be on a voluntary basis.
Additional discussion of the plan with state and local officials will be required to determine the feasibility of incorporating the postal delivery aspect with municipality emergency planning.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2004/03/15/hlbf0315.htm.
