Science & Technology Archives

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

No Defensive Strategy to Address a Growing Terrorist Threat

Richard Schoeberl July 22, 2015

As the Islamic State group increases its threats around the world, the United States is grossly unprepared to track radicalized members and sympathizers, or to even know how many there are in the United States and abroad. At this point, an international coalition effort is the best hope for thwarting

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

Baltimore Unrest – Police Lessons Learned on the Fly

Melissa Hyatt June 24, 2015

In any emergency or disaster incident, some tasks will be done well and others will be the basis for lessons to learn and changes to implement after the smoke clears. The Baltimore riot is one example. Law enforcement officers quickly learned that, even with multidiscipline planning and training for special

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

Serving the Underserved – No Matter What

Jayna Powell June 17, 2015

For underserved communities, every day is difficult. However, during a civil disturbance, these difficulties multiply – especially in times of civil unrest, when volunteers may be too afraid to work. In Baltimore, the solution to fill the volunteer gap came from social media use and a mobile app used by

How to Change Response Tactics in Times of Civil Unrest

Michael E. Cox Jr. June 10, 2015

Unlike responses to hurricanes, floods, or other natural hazards, civil disturbances are more likely to place emergency responders in harm’s way as the situation rapidly and unpredictably changes. To avoid becoming a target for angry crowds with projectiles and gunfire, personnel within the area of active fighting or unrest must

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