|
Plan Nationally, Respond Locally
Joseph Cahill
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Flexibility, common sense, and operational efficiency are the hallmarks of the new National Response Framework, which builds on the solid but sometimes too rigid foundation of its predecessor doctrine, the National Response Plan. read
Fleet Decontamination During a Pandemic
Joseph Cahill
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Decontamination, disinfection, and the use of liquid hand cleaners - all are among the most important "weapons" in the first-responder community's fight against a potential flu pandemic. And it's a battle to the death. Literally. read
WebEOC Fusion for Disasters and Everyday Use
Joseph Cahill
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
Flexibility, versatility, and a quantum upgrade in overall capabilities are the biggest selling points of ESi's newest WebEOC system, unveiled last month at the company's fourth annual User Conference in Boston. read
Resource-Typing Implications for EMS and Emergency Management
Joseph Cahill
Wednesday, April 09, 2008
Attention to detail is frequently the principal difference between the success, or failure, of any human endeavor. That is particularly true in times of sudden disaster, when "mere words" - precisely expressed - may have life-or-death implications. read
Force Protection - First, Protect the Protectors
Joseph Cahill
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
Not enough masks and/or medical supplies - those shortages can be overcome. But when there are not enough EMTs or paramedics, or if those who are available are among the early victims, there is no quick and easy way to find replacements. read
A Burning Question: National Fire Insurance?
Joseph Cahill
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
The almost pandemic outbreak of wildfires in California & other western states last year has aroused interest in a sometimes proposed but never authorized partial solution: enactment of a federally subsidized program to help high-risk communities. read
EMS Operations at Alternate-Treatment Vaccination Centers
Joseph Cahill
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
In a mass-casualty incident involving the rapid spread of dangerous diseases the most effective immediate defense will be a massive vaccination program. But who will do the vaccinating? No one knows for sure. read
The Evolution of Devolution
Joseph Cahill
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Who, when, how, and under what circumstances - those are only a few of the questions that are asked, and must be answered, in political, legal, and sometimes even combat situations calling for a transfer of decision-making command authority. read
Maintaining EMS Equipment in Times of Crisis
Joseph Cahill
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
EMS technicians and other first responders can and do work miracles each & every day. But not if they do not have the right rolling stock or medical systems or other equipment, or enough of it, or if the equipment they do have is not properly maintained. read
The Sorting - Life-or-Death Decisions on the Scene
Joseph Cahill
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
"First come, first served" is an appealingly democratic rule to follow when selling movie tickets or scarce consumer products. The same rule could literally kill people, though, if used by the first responders at mass-casualty incidents. read
EMS Professionals and the CERTification of Volunteers
Joseph Cahil
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
The willingness of so many citizen volunteers to serve on Community Emergency Response Teams adds an extra dimension of capability to already overworked (and sometimes overwhelmed) EMS staffs. There are a few precautions also worth noting, though. read
Hospital Evacuations: Planning, Exercises, and Common Sense
Joseph Cahill
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
"Full-scale" exercises sound like, and are, the ideal - but only in certain almost-perfect circumstances, and not without a firm foundation of individual and team training exercises to build on. read
Emergency Medical Services at a Mass Casualty Incident
Joseph Cahill
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Standard operating procedures are by definition not enough when EMS responders are called to the scene of a mass-casualty incident. Extraordinary and/or non-standard procedures are not only permitted, therefore, but frequently mandatory. read
Citizen-Participation Drills: Beyond Duck and Cover
Joseph Cahill
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
With fire-prevention programs serving as an example, there is much that "everyday citizens" can learn about protecting themselves and their families in a variety of emergency situations. The most important lesson is learning one's own limitations. read
Resources in Waiting: EMS Task Forces
Joseph Cahill
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
"Just in Case" has been trumped by "Just in Time." One result is that there is no surge capability that emergency managers can call on in times of major incidents. Unless, of course, an EMS Task Force is waiting in the wings. read
|
