Emergency Management Archives

Overcoming Notification Systems Challenges

William (Bill) Betcher December 23, 2015

Emergency response, information technology, and healthcare communications are three scenarios in which notification systems play a critical role. Recent disasters have demonstrated the benefits of crowdsourcing during response efforts, so notification systems are leveraging this responsiveness through two-way communication technology that can both disseminate and receive information.

The Art of Awareness for Emergency Medical Calls

Seth Komansky and Raphael M. Barishansky December 23, 2015

Civilian responders have successfully acquired many skills that were originally developed by military services. Situational awareness is one such skill that would be beneficial to adapt to the civilian members of the emergency medical services. Maintaining a heightened sense of awareness would help responders stay “in the loop.”

Climate Change Presents an Emerging, Dynamic Set of Hazards

Jeffrey Rubin December 9, 2015

Despite ongoing political controversy about climate change, one leading organization released a position statement that supports scientific research on weather extremes, which are some of the visible indicators of a changing climate. Changes in weather and habitats need to be addressed to mitigate the potential negative consequences to health and

Forging New Partnerships for Healthcare Preparedness

Jessica Wambach Brown December 9, 2015

In the first week of December 2015, more than 1,000 professionals in healthcare-related organizations, emergency management agencies, public health departments, emergency medical services (EMS), nongovernmental organizations, and academia met in San Diego, California, to discuss ways to bolster partnerships within and between these disparate groups.

Food for Thought: Emergency Shelters & Food Allergies

Andrew R. Roszak December 9, 2015

When one peanut has the ability to kill, it is necessary to examine the practices and procedures used in public yet confined spaces such as emergency shelters. By following simple steps, emergency managers are able to perform shelter operations while limiting exposure to allergens and contaminants that could turn a

Responders Can Teach CDP Training Through the Indirect Training Program

Domestic Preparedness December 5, 2015

Emergency responders who attend the Center for Domestic Preparedness (CDP) training can easily become qualified to share that training with their colleagues back home through the CDP’s Indirect Training Program. Several CDP courses offer a “”train-the-trainer”” option by taking an additional day of training at the CDP’s Anniston, Alabama, campus.

How the Nation Is Failing in Public Health Preparedness

Patrick P. Rose November 17, 2015

As public health funding and staffing continue to decline, communities are left more vulnerable to the next catastrophic public health emergency. The United States is failing in its public health preparedness efforts. The nation’s resilience depends on the government and public health making critical changes to reverse this downward trend.

To Help Identify Causes of Fatal Fires Nationwide, NASFM Launches Online Training Program

Domestic Preparedness November 15, 2015

Over a five-year period, the cause of ignition in the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) was unknown in almost three out of every five home fire deaths. Recognizing the reporting gap in NFIRS, the National Association of State Fire Marshals (NASFM) has launched a free, online training program for

Public Health’s Role Beyond Biologicals

Audrey Mazurek and Raphael M. Barishansky November 11, 2015

Public health’s role is often synonymous with biological events such as Ebola, H1N1, and SARS, but the field of public health offers many capabilities that are relevant to chemical, radiological, nuclear, and explosive events as well. To leverage these capabilities, a joint effort from the federal, state, and local levels

New Decontamination Resource – Information & Expertise

Craig DeAtley November 11, 2015

A new federal resource equips healthcare providers with a valuable information repository. This resource also offers a way to request technical assistance and provides a forum for peer-to-peer discussions. Decontamination is just one of the many in-depth topics addressed by subject matter experts in the healthcare field.

Technology Development & Science-Based Solutions

Rachel A. Bartholomew and Richard Ozanich October 21, 2015

Science-based research is useful in analyzing and reducing risks through the development of new technologies for detecting, sampling, and studying various contaminants and unknown substances. Teams of scientists at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory play a large role in ensuring that first responders have the necessary tools to perform their critical

Modular Solutions for Compounding Pharmacies & Biosafety Facilities

Jessica Wambach Brown and Allan Swan October 21, 2015

A decade after Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast region, the effects of underprepared healthcare systems are still apparent. Nearly a year after the first case of Ebola was diagnosed on U.S. soil, the West African nations most affected by the disease remain burdened by insufficient infrastructure to properly isolate

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