As security needs continue to change, the technology to meet those needs also must constantly evolve. In 2014, five key technology trends may change the way that business managers protect their employees, data, and facilities: cloud services, wireless technologies, standards, distance biometrics, and business intelligence.
Different people have different learning styles; therefore, an effective training process must be able to meet those individual needs in order to improve information retention, resolve issues, and promote an ongoing learning experience. As equipment evolves, so too must the training. Otherwise, that shiny new equipment may simply gather dust.
Food, like water and air, is essential to sustain life. As such, when someone deliberately taints that sustenance at any point in the food supply chain, the result can be devastating. This report addresses the topic of food defense, which is of great importance to the preparedness community, but it often is not widely understood, especially outside the food and agriculture sector.
New technologies and equipment mean new training concerns. Ensuring that responders are capable of choosing the right equipment for an incident, knowing how to use it, and accurately interpreting the results are regular challenges for first responders and hazardous materials teams. To address these challenges, experts offer multi-technology support.
Preparing for any disaster is essential for an effective incident response. However, by failing to properly prepare and train employees, agencies also are more vulnerable to potential liabilities. Past legal cases and court rulings highlight the consequences that agencies have faced as a result of inadequate training practices. Reduced funding may not an acceptable excuse.
On 7 November 2013, U.S. District Judge Jesse Furman ruled that: (a) New York City’s emergency planning inadequately accommodates people with disabilities; and (b) the city is in violation of local and federal laws, including the Americans with Disabilities Act. In his ruling, Furman said that the city’s current plans do not ensure the evacuation of people with disabilities, do not provide sufficiently accessible shelters, and do not do enough in general to inform all citizens about the emergency services available. He issued the ruling in response to a -action lawsuit initiated by disability advocacy groups following Tropical Storm Irene in 2011 – nearly two years before the devastation that Superstorm Sandy inflicted on the city and its residents in 2012.
Predicting the future of emergency medical services (EMS) is often a frustrating task; but it also can be extremely rewarding. For many years, EMS leaders have been predicting a day when paramedics will be able to treat patients on-site – without having to transport them to a hospital or other healthcare facility. In fact, the so-called “Community Paramedic” has been just over the horizon since the mid-1980s.
The devastating impacts of Hurricane Sandy and other natural disasters that have followed stress the importance of improving disaster-response planning. By gathering and sharing information, however, everyone can play a greater role in reducing risk and creating communities that are more resilient.
Life science research benefits society in many ways, but also creates certain risks – particularly when that research falls into the wrong hands, either deliberately or unintentionally. Clearly defined rules and regulations governing the results of such dual-use research could help keep scientific research focused on less dangerous and more beneficial results.
Despite the fact that emergency managers and their public health partners have much in common, they often do not collaborate effectively in responding to mass-casualty emergencies. By identifying existing similarities and finding more common ground, the future reparedness and response efforts of both groups will be even more successful.
As security needs continue to change, the technology to meet those needs also must constantly evolve. In 2014, five key technology trends may change the way that business managers protect their employees, data, and facilities: cloud services, wireless technologies, standards, distance biometrics, and business intelligence. 
The devastating impacts of Hurricane Sandy and other natural disasters that have followed stress the importance of improving disaster-response planning. By gathering and sharing information, however, everyone can play a greater role in reducing risk and creating communities that are more resilient. 
Despite the fact that emergency managers and their public health partners have much in common, they often do not collaborate effectively in responding to mass-casualty emergencies. By identifying existing similarities and finding more common ground, the future reparedness and response efforts of both groups will be even more successful. 