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by MandyMurphey from St. Louis

Last Post 50 days, 20 hours Ago


St. Louis Medkit Study
Nov 20, 2007 | 3:41 PM
Category: News
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A study done in St. Louis could change national policy on how to prepare for an anthrax attack. If a bioterrorism attack happened today, only a small percentage of the population could get the antibiotics they need within 48 hours.  Anthrax exposure can be deadly if not treated with antibiotics in the first 48 hours.  The federal government is looking for another solution and St. Louis may be the key to making that happen.  The Centers for Disease Control put medkits in 4,000 St. Louis homes to see if people could take care of them and not take the antibiotics if they had a runny nose.   All but four followed the instructions perfectly. 

My Fox files on this important medkit study in St. Louis is the focus of my story Wednesday night.  Right now, you have the opportunity to talk to the experts about this story.  Representatives from the Centers for Disease control are monitoring my blog and will be answering your questions about this study and how to be prepared in the event of a bioterrorism attack.  You can post your questions and keep checking back for the answers.

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Member Comments Total Comments: 6
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harp read my blog view my photos
Nov 20, 2007 | 6:25 PM

Well if we was attacked and I got sick I would pass on meds..I let the healthy have the meds. seems only fair because I sick I think let the healthy have meds and I think the old should not take em eather..It seems only the fair thing to do...my oppinon.
connie3212 read my blog view my photos
Nov 21, 2007 | 7:40 PM

My husband and I took part in this about 2 years ago. It was interesting.
algrant33
Nov 21, 2007 | 9:54 PM

This makes me wonder how long the CDC study was, and what cross-section of the St. Louis community took part in the study. I find it interesting that only 0.1% of the study opened the antibiotic packages without instructions, and I believe that had the study been extended in time or if these packs were distributed to more disadvantaged citizens, the results might be different.
algrant33
Nov 21, 2007 | 9:55 PM

Sorry for the double post--mod, can you remove the previous one.

This makes me wonder how long the CDC study was, and what cross-section of the St. Louis community took part in the study. I find it interesting that only 0.1% of the study opened the antibiotic packages without instructions, and I believe that had the study been extended in time or if these packs were distributed to more disadvantaged citizens, the results might be different.

A study is one thing, but in the real world, I would suspect that a great number of people are more concerned with their ear infections, toothaches and other ailments than the distant, one-in-a-million possibility of an anthrax threat. You're giving people prescription medicines to keep in their houses, "in case they're needed". Well, if I have an ailment that I think antibiotics may be able to treat (whether they can or not), I'd be VERY tempted to improperly self-treat with the medicines entrusted to me. Definitely more convenient, not to mention cheaper, than going to a doctor.

In the end, antibiotics are controlled substances (YES!!) for a REASON; that reason should be respected, and while it's obvious people need to be able to receive needed medicine in a hurry, I don't believe they should keep it on hand. That's what pharmacies are for.
jud60
Nov 22, 2007 | 11:40 AM

I would absolutely have a medical kit in my home and would make sure that my family would also have them. Why wait three years. This kind of thing could happen at any time.
Chickenkiller read my blog
Nov 26, 2007 | 2:58 PM

Mandy - the government won't buy the results of this study. The answer is too easy, too cost effective and makes too much sense. In order to be successful a distribution plan would have to have different categories of recipients, priorities and other built-in confusing rules so that nobody could benefit from the probram. You would have to make it a TSA equivalent program.

That said, if someone gets a kit and decides to delve in and give the meds to their kids rather than take them to the doctor, then when they're needed, well, too bad - so sad, but they just lost their chance at survival!
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MandyMurphey

I'm the anchor for Fox 2 News at 5 and 9. I've been with KTVI for 17 years starting as the Contact 2 reporter. I am the mother of two daughters ages 8 and 2.

Member Since: 9/13/2006


 

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