EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES ARCHIVES
Biopreparedness and the Hydra of Bioterrorism
Diana Hopkins
November 11, 2009
Science is wonderful! Except when it is not. One of the almost inevitable problems facing researchers in the biological sciences is how to ensure that their discoveries are used to benefit mankind. Unfortunately, achieving that enviable goal may be a true Mission Impossible.
Mortuary Services & The Lessons Learned From Real-Life Tragedy
Jennifer Smither
November 11, 2009
First responders do their utmost to save the lives of those seriously injured in mass-casualty incidents. Medical examiners and local volunteers have what is sometimes a more difficult job: identifying the bodies, “processing” the remains, and notifying the victims’ families.
New and Emerging Al Qaeda Threats
Neil C. Livingstone
November 11, 2009
The term “global war on terrorism” is now politically incorrect, in at least some circles. There is mounting evidence, though, that some terrorists do not agree and are already planning new attacks against domestic targets on the U.S. homeland.
Ham Radio – An Emergency Tool for Public Health
Barry Kanne
November 4, 2009
Many citizens served their communities heroically in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, and some of their stories are well known – but most of them remain untold. One of the still relatively unknown heroes is a legally blind New Orleans jazz musician, who also happens to be an amateur radio
Field-Based Patient Tracking: Real-Time Data Sharing Comes of Age
Rodrigo (Roddy) Moscoso
November 4, 2009
The old saying that the job “”isn’t done until the paperwork has been completed”” is particularly true if the “paperwork” data – vital signs, indications of internal bleeding, etc., collected at the scene of a car accident or other incident – is somehow lost before, during or after the patient’s
Mass-Casualty/Medical-Surge Capabilities: Closing the Gap
Kay C. Goss
October 28, 2009
The U.S. government, and most major American cities, have worked diligently, and with considerable success, since the 9/11 terrorist attacks to upgrade their homeland-defense capabilities. But “better” is not the same as “enough” – and probably never will be.
Expanded Duty for EMS Techs: Tactical Decisions
Joseph Cahill
October 28, 2009
Most medium-sized or larger U.S. communities are now better prepared than ever before to cope with “routine” incidents such as car crashes and motorcycle accidents. But a much smaller number is able to deal with truly major incidents that stress not only the rescue equipment available but also the skills
Expanded-Duty EMS: Heavy Rescue
Joseph Cahill
October 28, 2009
Most medium-sized or larger U.S. communities are now better prepared than ever before to cope with “routine” incidents such as car crashes and motorcycle accidents. But a much smaller number is able to deal with truly major incidents that stress not only the rescue equipment available but also the skills
Telemedicine: Funding Increases & Rapid-Paced Development
Diana Hopkins
October 21, 2009
It started with extremely low-tech audio communications, and in recent years telemedicine technology has spawned a spectrum of much more advanced systems and devices that are of literally life-or-death importance to many citizens in distress. But the paperwork – specifically including development and performance standards – has not kept up.
HLS & EM: Blueprinting the Future
Dennis R. Schrader
October 21, 2009
Today’s homeland-security and emergency-management professionals are highly skilled and exceptionally well motivated. Their second most important goal, though – after keeping the nation safe – is to ensure that their second- and third-generation successors are even more competent and capable than the first-generation leaders now setting the pace.
SAMU & EMS: The Principle Differences
Joseph Cahill
October 14, 2009
The goal is the same – doing the most good for the most patients. But there are several significant, and perhaps educational, differences between the way that French medical-response units are trained and operate as compared with their American counterparts.
NIMS & ICS: The Next Level
Stephen Grainer
October 14, 2009
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) resumed the “next” series of its NIMS (National Incident Management System) Incident Command System (ICS) training in August with the delivery of eight ICS position-specific Train-the-Trainer (T-t-T) programs in College Station, Texas, where the Texas Forest Service (TFS) is headquartered – on the
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