By Kaitlin Melanson/ kmelanso@cnc.com
Thursday, March 16, 2006
In order to be fully prepared for the unpredictable, the Marblehead Health Department is seeking a little help from its neighbors.
Among the articles gracing this year’s warrant is one sponsored by the Board of Health, which seeks to set up a mutual-aid system not much unlike those used by the police and fire departments.
“Essentially, we are looking for a formalized back-up system in case of an emergency,” said Health Director Wayne Attridge.

To illustrate how vital a mutual-aid network would be, Attridge recalled a 2004 incident in Stoneham where the town couldn’t have pulled through without the support of its surrounding communities.
“A few years back, Stoneham had an outbreak of Hepatitis A, and they had no form of mutual aid set up,” Attridge said. “Luckily, surrounding towns came to their aid anyway. We really want to be able to have something formally in place so we can always be prepared.”
Attridge added, “The probability is that if there is a major health emergency in one town, it will probably effect more than one community.”
Currently, the board is looking to set up a mutual-aid system with about a dozen surrounding communities. According to state statute, each town must gain approval through its governmental procedures — for Marblehead, that means approval at Town Meeting — before any system can be formalized.
“Right now, all of the towns are in the process of passing it through their town governments,” said Attridge. “It is a pretty simple concept, and it will not cost anything, so it is just a matter of whether or not it passes through Town Meeting.”
Attridge added, “We already have a good relationship with the members of the health departments in our surrounding communities, and they will be an excellent resource for us to tap into if an emergency comes up.”