Volunteer 'victims' needed for biological attack scenario

In the event of a biological terrorist attack against the Northwest suburbs, Jack Bauer won't be around to play hero.

In the reality that exists outside of TV's "24," the public relies on firefighters, police officers and other emergency workers.

Many of those suburban officials will gather May 13 at the Sears Centre arena in Hoffman Estates to test how efficient the area's emergency plan is when it comes to distributing antibiotics to combat threats such as anthrax.

And they need your help.

People who volunteer as victims will be given scripted roles. Some could be belligerent, symptomatic, even pregnant.

Officials are hoping to lure 3,000 volunteer victims over a several period in the middle of the day.

"The more the merrier," Hoffman Estates Police Chief Clint Herdegen said.

Some will be given marathon-style microchips to time how long it takes them to go through the lines.

Emergency personnel, under the watch of the Cook County and Illinois departments of public health, will hand out pill bottles to them.

Several tables will be set up in the middle of the arena where emergency staff will screen " victims."

More than 20 emergency departments will be on hand to handle the scenario.

"It's forced Hoffman Estates to look inward," said Hoffman Estates Emergency Management Coordinator Dave Christensen. "Are we ready; do we have what we need?"

Though the exercise will last only a few hours, the full-scale emergency plan's goal is to be able to distribute medicines to a population of 50,000 to 100,000 within a 72-hour window. The thinking is that under real threat, a family member could go through the screening and bring pills home to relatives.

"This is get 'em in and get 'em out," said Sara Levinson, emergency response coordinator for Cook County.

Under a biological threat, 18 locations across Cook County, including the Sears Centre, would be activated to distribute medicine.

Officials aren't holding their breaths but have invited elected officials including Cook County Board President Todd Stroger to watch the test.

Typically towns host a scaled-down event once a year to prepare first responders, including police and paramedics.

Christensen stressed how important it is to treat emergency personnel first under chemical attack so they are healthy enough to administer care to the general public. Officials last gathered in 2006 at Harper College in Palatine for a event similar to this one.

Sears Centre officials donated the use of the space after Hoffman Estates officials were asked by Cook County officials in December to host the event, Christensen said.

Volunteers don't have to register. They can just show up between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. May 13 at the Sears Centre. Check hoffmanestates.com for updates beginning later in the week. Volunteers will be given a voucher for one of the final two Chicago Slaughter home games.