MEDIA ADVISORY
James Amos of Pueblo Wins What If? Colorado Reality Competition
DENVER –
WHAT: The Emergency Preparedness and Response Division of the Colorado Department of
Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) named James Amos of Pueblo the overall
winner of the What If? Colorado reality house competition. Amos was awarded a cash
grand prize of $2,500 through a donation from HealthONE. Amos and each of the
contestants also received an Apple 30 gigabyte iPod and a 72-hour emergency
preparedness kit.
In the What If? Colorado reality house, nine contestants from throughout Colorado lived
together at The Gregory Inn in Downtown Denver Sept. 20 – 23 and faced a variety of
challenges designed to inform them – and therefore the rest of Colorado – about a
multitude of emergency preparedness and influenza issues. The winner was determined
based on overall points earned during the challenges throughout the weekend.
During the competition, contestants faced challenges including the “Glo Germ” challenge,
which taught contestants how silently, quickly and unnoticeably a germs can spread; the
“Grocery Grab” challenge which taught contestants about the necessary items for an
emergency preparedness kit and the “Dunk Tank” challenge which tested contestants’
knowledge about a variety of emergency preparedness and response issues.
To view episodes of the competition, visit www.WhatIfColorado.com.
WHERE: The Gregory Inn, 2500 Arapahoe Street, Denver, CO 80205
WHEN: 12:00 p.m., Sunday, September 23, 2007
WHY: What If? Colorado is a statewide, six-month campaign from the Emergency
Preparedness and Response Division of the Colorado Department of Public Health and
Environment (CDPHE). The campaign asks Coloradoans to consider how well they are
prepared for a sudden emergency, such as a severe snowstorm or power outage, as well
as more long-term emergencies such as an outbreak of pandemic influenza. In addition,
the campaign prescribes specific actions residents can take to better prepare themselves
for such inevitable conditions. Specific objectives of the campaign include:
- To increase the number of Colorado citizens who develop emergency kits for their homes
- To empower Colorado citizens by giving them concrete actions they can take to prepare for emergencies and prevent the spread of illness during an influenza pandemic
- To inform Colorado citizens about pandemic influenza and how it differs from seasonal influenza
- To partner with the Colorado Influenza and Pneumococcal Alert Coalition (CIPAC) to increase the number of Colorado citizens who receive seasonal influenza vaccinations
About the “What If? Colorado” Campaign
The Emergency Preparedness and Response Division of the Colorado Department of Public Health and
Environment has developed a new statewide six-month campaign titled “What If? Colorado” to inform
citizens, increase the number of Coloradoans who receive influenza immunizations and encourage
residents to assemble an emergency preparedness kit for their homes. For further information, please
visit www.WhatIfColorado.com or call the Colorado Help Line: 1-877-462-2911.