Hospitals Archives

Cold Calculations and the Search for Inner Warmth

Joseph Cahill January 28, 2009

A timely and temperate reminder that cold weather may be and is uncomfortable, but extremely cold weather can kill. Among those in the greatest danger, surprisingly enough, are EMS staff and other responders.

The Mumbai Attacks – Lessons for the Western World

Joseph W. Trindal January 14, 2009

The terrorist attacks two months ago in Mumbai provide a number of lessons for emergency-services agencies throughout the world. The attacks, which represented an ever-increasing level of sophistication and ingenuity of terrorist activity worldwide, started during the evening hours of 26 November 2008 when small teams of armed terrorists launched

Changes and Clarifications – NIMS Upgrade Released

Stephen Grainer January 14, 2009

On 18 December 2008, long-awaited revisions to the National Incident Management System (NIMS) – officially described as an “upgrade” by the former acting director of the NIMS Integration Center, Albert Fluman – were published by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and are now being implemented.The effort to improve the

Emerging Infections and Their Impact on EMS

Raphael M. Barishansky January 7, 2009

“New” diseases, combined with the fatal rebirth of ancient diseases believed to have been terminally laid to rest, are giving epidemiologists, EMS agencies and responders, and healthcare workers a daunting challenge of epic proportions.

Litigation Trends Regarding Security

Neil C. Livingstone December 17, 2008

One of the most effective weapons against terrorists, surprisingly, is Money! Not the reasonable sums used to pay for new surveillance systems but damages charged against businesses that fail to provide proper security for customers, tenants, & employees.

Coming: An Upgrading of Security Standards for Rail Transit

Diana Hopkins December 17, 2008

For many Americans the most important date to remember next month will not be Inauguration Day, but 27 January, when the American National Standards Institute’s Transit Security Workshop starts a much-needed review of U.S. rail-security deficiencies.

Hospital Security: An Age-Old Problem Becomes Increasingly Important

Craig DeAtley December 3, 2008

The Emergency Department of any major hospital or other healthcare facility is commonly a site of workplace violence – with healthcare or mental health workers being the victims in 12 percent of the cases, according to a 2001 report issued by the U.S. Department of Justice. Long waits, substance abuse,

Filling the Equipment Inventory: Some Relevant Questions

Joseph Cahill November 12, 2008

The well-dressed first responder can take with him or her a limited amount of equipment to the incident scene. The selection of that equipment may be, and often is, a literally life-or-death matter.

TERT Takes Toxic Approach to Emergency Response

Shannon Arledge November 12, 2008

Chemicals, biological agents, and other dangerous substances are among the key instructional materials used to train hazmat technicians and other first responders participating in the CDP’s upgraded “COBRA course” in Anniston, Alabama.

The Dopplerian Resonance Effect on Continual Preparedness

Adam Montella October 22, 2008

Memories of even the most cataclysmic disaster fade as time passes, but those memories are important reminders that continued vigilance is needed to ensure that similar disasters are avoided in the future.

International Standards for National Defense & Homeland Security

Diana Hopkins September 24, 2008

There are many reasons – e.g., future sales, & an infusion of outside expertise – for including international partners in the setting of standards. There are also legal & security factors to consider, particularly in the fields of weapons & technology.When a U.S. agency or private-sector company is developing standards

Customizing the Tool: The Tailoring of Crisis-Management and Mass-Casualty Software

Kate Rosenblatt September 17, 2008

The U.S. healthcare system is in most respects the best in the world. But keeping the paperwork up with the patient is still a formidable problem, particularly in the handling of mass-casualty patients with several hospitals involved.

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