HOSPITALS ARCHIVES
Education ā The Ultimate Personal Protective Equipment
Catherine L. Feinman
October 25, 2017
A firefighter would not run into a burning building without turnout gear and self-contained breathing apparatus. A paramedic would not treat and transport a patient without proper body substance isolation precautions. A hazardous materials technician would not attempt to contain a highly toxic chemical spill without donning a Level A
Implications of the Opioid Crisis During Disaster Response
Dawn Thomas
October 24, 2017
During disaster response, individuals suffering from opioid addiction have both similar and unique needs as compared to those suffering from other types of illness. Emergency responders need the resources to manage opioid-addicted victims of a disaster, and response teams must be appropriately staffed to meet the physical and behavioral health
Surviving the First Disaster Deployment
Arthur (Art) Samaras
October 23, 2017
When runners compete in their first marathon or triathlon, they often set goals such as, āI hope to break four hours,ā or āI want to beat my brotherās time.ā However, a different mindset should be taken for a first attempt at an endurance event. Rather than placing benchmarks or targets,
Lone Wolves ā Finding the Red Flags
Richard Schoeberl and Dan Scherr
October 18, 2017
The Department of Homeland Security has acknowledged that the threat of ālone wolfā attacks continues to represent the greatest threat to national security. This acknowledgment is supported by the fact that the United States is experiencing an unprecedented number of active shooter events ā whether ideologically or non-ideologically inspired. Two
Exercise Because of Want, Not Because of Need
Nitin Natarajan
September 27, 2017
For decades, governments have conducted emergency preparedness exercises as a method to evaluate the ability to prepare for, respond to, and recover from natural and manmade disasters. There is no doubt the tens of thousands of exercises conducted across the nation have improved the nationās preparedness but, in order to
National Preparedness Month: A Year-Round Endeavor
Catherine L. Feinman
September 27, 2017
Throughout National Preparedness Month many communitiesā preparedness plans have been tested. Hurricanes, earthquakes, wildfires, floods, and drought are just some of the threats faced this month. Although preparedness is highlighted during the month of September, recent events reinforce the need for preparedness to be a year-round effort ā especially during
Active Shooter Incidents: The Rescue Task Force Concept
Robert Mueck
September 20, 2017
The concept of the Rescue Task Force (RTF) came from the Arlington County (Virginia) Fire Department. Looking at active shooter events around the country, these fire department leaders created a model that enables emergency medical services (EMS) to provide emergency medical intervention faster and within the Incident Command System (ICS)
Mass Fatalities ā More Than Just a Number
Ron Vidal and Catherine L. Feinman
August 30, 2017
A chemical spill, nuclear attack, biological agent, pandemic, hurricane, and numerous other threats and hazards have the potential to kill enough people to overwhelm any particular jurisdiction. Whether that number is 10 or 10,000 or more, the āunthinkableā can happen anywhere. On 16 June 2017, DomPrep hosted a panel discussion
Disasters Are About the People
Catherine L. Feinman
August 30, 2017
Hurricane Harvey has caused widespread destruction, and its aftermath continues to pose a significant threat to life and safety. In this and other large-scale incidents, the exact number of people affected is hard to determine because of the complex physical and social networks that exist within and between jurisdictional boundaries.
When Pandemic Management Meets Cybersecurity
Nitin Natarajan
August 28, 2017
When faced with a health crisis such as a pandemic, the primary objective is ensuring the health and well being of the public and finding the fastest and easiest method to limit the spread of disease and take care of those who are sick. Cyberthreats can hinder public health efforts
Responding to Unique Operating Environments
Seth Komansky
August 23, 2017
Effective trainings are ones where the participants remember and later implement what they learned into their daily operations. Not everyone knows how they would respond in a true emergency. However, some trainings provide a more realistic glimpse into disaster scenarios than others. This first-hand account describes what it was like
Mass Fatality Incidents & Challenges for First Responders
Daryl D. Sensenig
August 23, 2017
Mass fatality incidents present many challenges. To effectively plan for such events, certain key factors must be taken into consideration: common causes and challenges, as well as resources available. By communicating with the local medical examiner/coroner, being familiar with mass fatality plans, and learning about any pertinent capabilities and limitations,
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