By: centraljersey.com
Mary Brienza
Staff Writer
The township has prepared a document to help residents prepare for a potential H1N1 flu epidemic and any other public health and safety emergency that the town faces, according to officials.
The township received a $127,000 federal grant to implement a H1N1 prevention program through vaccination and public education, Stephen Papenberg, Health Officer for the township said.
The town used the money to obtain an online registration system for the H1N1 vaccine, creating a free brochure for residents, supporting the "Mind and Body" health video productions, and to enhance the health department website by making it more user friendly, spokesman Ron Schmalz said Monday.
The program allows the municipality to share more information with the community and provide training for volunteers and local medical/health professionals, Mr. Schmalz said.
In creating the brochure, the township wanted to develop something "durable" and to make sure the information was specific to New Jersey and the township, and included the most up to date information available, Mr. Papenberg said.
The brochure took eight weeks to produce and used information from the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta, Georgia, Mr. Papenberg said.
The township’s Office of Emergency Management assisted in preparing the document, and worked to pack as much information as possible to help residents, Mr. Papenberg said.
Residents can pick up the free brochures at the South Brunswick Public Library on Kingston Lane, the municipal building and Senior Center on Route 522, the recreation center, and all South Brunswick schools, Mr. Schmalz said.
The brochures are for anyone interested in finding information on flu and other emergencies, and the township has enough for all residents to have one, Mr. Papenberg said.
The township is also working to put the information online, Mr. Papenberg said.
The town is also expecting another allocation of federal money that flows to local health departments through the state to help inform residents about health and safety issues, Mr. Papenberg said.
Mr. Papenberg said he recommends all township residents pick up a brochure, to be up to date with the latest information.

