EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES ARCHIVES
Having the Right Tools to Shorten Periods of Chaos
Gordon Hunter
August 12, 2015
Disasters often lead to chaos, but how long the chaos lasts depends largely on the actions of the affected communities and whether all local resources are being used effectively. The longer it takes businesses to become fully operational, the longer it takes for the community as a whole to
New York City’s Commodities Distribution & Recovery Planning
Paula M. Carlson and Thomas F. Healy
August 5, 2015
When planning and training for major disasters, communities often place more emphasis on the response rather than the recovery effort. However, it is critical that the recovery effort begins concurrent to the response in order for communities to be more resilient. New York City recognized this need and exercised one
National Laboratory Support for First Responders’ Biodetection Needs
Richard Ozanich and Cynthia J. Bruckner-Lea
July 29, 2015
In an ever-changing biological environment, laboratory support is necessary to help responders identify, categorize, and manage incidents involving biological threats. The Pacific Northwest National Laboratory is one source that provides valuable testing data to help today’s first responders collect, screen,identify, and ultimately protect against such threats.
Local Public Health’s Role in Large-Scale Chemical Incidents
Rachel Schulman
July 22, 2015
Public health departments play, or have the ability to play, a key role in large-scale incidents caused by hazardous materials. By clearly defining their roles and collaborating with local partners, health departments have the ability to help emergency planners and responders prevent, mitigate, plan for, and respond to chemical hazards
Response Management: Back to Basics
Stephen Grainer
July 22, 2015
When a seemingly unrealistic incident occurs, emergency managers must be equipped with the base knowledge necessary to respond to the previously unknown scenario. Acronyms are a good way to remember what to do when stress levels are high and time is short. By getting back to the basics, managers are
Superheroes in Waiting: Emergent First Responders
Wayne Bergeron
July 15, 2015
Although they may not want to be called “heroes,” military members and veterans can fill a critical gap in emergency and disaster response. Their unique qualities of training, discipline, leadership, and teamwork make them the perfect emergent responder either as a member of an organized team, or simply by being
Dangerous Suicides
Stuart K. Cameron
July 15, 2015
Although most suicides injure only the suicide victims themselves, others may cause injury to anyone within close proximity. With law enforcement officers typically being the first on the scene of such incidents, they should be aware of the hazards and be able to recognize the signs of potential residual threats.
What It Takes to Be a Public Health Emergency Preparedness Professional
Raphael M. Barishansky
July 15, 2015
In the relatively young subspecialty of public health emergency preparedness, effective public health preparedness managers mustentify the essential elements of their roles and the skills or requirements necessary to be effective in their positions. Although there is no set recipe for success, diverse and field-related skills are a must.
Operation Twister – Exercising Disaster Behavioral Response
Craig DeAtley
July 8, 2015
Functional exercises are invaluable for helping participants understand their roles in disasters. This is particularly true for participants who normally are not included in interagency exercises, such as behavioral health personnel. Triaging following a disaster should not stop at the physical level, but should consider psychological concerns as well.Every disaster
Apples & Oranges – Understanding Curies & REM in Radiation Sources
Jeffrey Williams
July 8, 2015
Hazardous materials personnel are faced with a broad range of chemical, biological, and radiological hazards. However, not all hazards are equal, nor are similar quantities. Responders who encounter radiological materials need to know the relationship of quantity and biological impact of specific materials by first understanding the terminology of measurement
What Baltimore’s Recent Civil Unrest Can Teach Emergency Planners
Anthony S. Mangeri
June 30, 2015
When civil unrest erupts, emergency planners must look beyond the riot itself to understand how the riots culminated, who the key antagonists were, and what can be done to improve planning and response for future outbreaks of violence. In Baltimore, officials are talking in order to accomplish all three of
Riots – When Civil Rights Protests Lose Civility
Robert Maloney
June 24, 2015
From the Occupy movement to burning cars and looting pharmacies, Baltimore, Maryland, has seen its share of peaceful (and not-so-peaceful) protests. In light of recent publicized civil unrest, cities across the country continue to seek a balance between protecting First Amendment rights and protecting the communities and residents for which
Follow Us
Get Instant Access
Subscribe today to Domestic Preparedness and get real-world insights for safer communities.
