EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES ARCHIVES
BioWatch – Challenges & Opportunities for Applied Research
Rodrigo (Roddy) Moscoso
August 27, 2014
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has continued to use its legacy early warning system for biological threats as it continues to weigh costs against effectiveness in its search for better technological solutions. In the meantime, “big data” and social media analytics offer incremental steps toward better biodetection and response.
The Complexities of Environmental Health Security
Catherine L. Feinman
August 27, 2014
A topic that often bridges various disciplines and jurisdictions – and sometimes is overlooked in the “big picture” – is security related to environmental health. To address questions surrounding this topic, DomPrep asked readers how they define environmental health and where it fits within the national and international security arena.
National Strategy for Biosecurity Threats
Robert C. Hutchinson
August 20, 2014
“Unexpected” threats may not be so unexpected, but rather foreseen threats that were not taken seriously. Anthrax, plague, and smallpox were ongoing concerns even before the recent incidents that occurred on U.S. soil. However, local jurisdictions must plan for and be operationally prepared for such no-notice biological incidents.
Incident Response for Nursing & Assisted Living Homes
Steven Maynard
August 20, 2014
Article Out Loud Residents of nursing and assisted living homes are subject to many risks, including fires. Residents tend to be more physically and cognitively impaired, which puts them at a higher risk for death than the general population. Moreover, nursing and assisted living homes have long been recognized as
Public Health Emergencies – Looking Toward the Future
Audrey Mazurek and Raphael M. Barishansky
August 13, 2014
In January 2014, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) Forum on Medical and Public Health Preparedness for Catastrophic Events released a white paper listing seven recommendations to enhance the sustainability of preparedness efforts in the United States. The IOM paper reflects on relevant past accomplishments, the current state of public health
Mass Fatalities – Processing Human Remains
Joseph Cahill
August 13, 2014
The unfortunate truth is – no matter how well prepared a jurisdiction is, no matter how well equipped and staffed, and no matter how good emergency plans are – bad things happen. Unlike most planning efforts, the goal of mass fatality planning is not to save lives, but rather to
Call for a Dedicated Environmental Health & Security Strategy
Justin Snair and Christopher Mills
August 5, 2014
The natural and built environments affect personal and population health, but the effects are often only visible over time. Countering the threat of harmful substances and organisms in food, water, air, and soil requires a multidiscipline approach. Determining where environmental health and security fits alongside public health strategy and homeland
Biothreat Preparedness – Less Talking, More Doing
Catherine L. Feinman
July 30, 2014
An article, a flash poll, and a podcast each addressed the same question: Where does the nation stand on preparedness for biological threats? As the world watches to see how West Africa manages the latest Ebola outbreak, public health officials must continue to train, educate, staff, and fund their forces
Bioterror – The Threat, The Defense & The Future
Richard Schoeberl
July 23, 2014
Adequate defense for a bioterrorism attack requires fortification of the public health infrastructure as well as the establishment and continuance of a good healthcare system. With the potential to spread rapidly with and between communities, bioagents as weapons pose a significant threat to U.S. communities that require greater attention on
Revisiting the Staging Area Manager
Robert Mueck
July 23, 2014
Modern communication methods and social media enable rapid transfer of information. As a result, there is often an influx of responders and onlookers when an incident occurs. To manage those who were not dispatched to the scene, a staging area manager can help establish a check-in post, organize and track
Special Facilities – More Than Just Shelters
Joseph Cahill
July 16, 2014
Many emergency plans call for the establishment of special facilities – each serving a primary function(s) to protect the population – in order to fulfill the public’s needs during or after a disaster. Following a terrorist attack involving a bioweapon such as smallpox, for example, mass inoculations would require establishing
Importance of the Global Health Security Agenda
Raphael M. Barishansky and Audrey Mazurek
July 16, 2014
Increased intercontinental travel and increased biological, pandemic, and other disease threats mean that countries must effectively cooperate and communicate to prevent the spread of disease within and between interconnected communities. The Global Health Security helps bring together global partners and address key issues related to preventing, detecting, and responding to
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