Public Health Archives

Creating a New Standard for Evaluating Tabletop Exercises

John Duda and Scott J. Glick July 5, 2023

Tabletop exercises are vital in preparing organizations to respond to critical incidents. However, an industry standard has not emerged on how to evaluate their effectiveness. A new standard that implements quantitative and qualitative assessment tools is needed.

Are Public Health Agencies Ready, or Just Prepared?

Raphael Barishansky June 21, 2023

Is it time to retire the term public health preparedness and replace it with public health readiness? When building emergency planning efforts and response capabilities, jurisdictions and local health entities must reconfigure existing plans with the readiness factor in mind.

Food and Agriculture Sector Perspectives

Aurelia Berisha, Isaac Dietrich, Ben Dinsmore, Bert Cramer and Heather Allen June 7, 2023

The U.S. Food and Agriculture (FA) Sector is composed of complex production, processing, and delivery systems that can feed people and animals both within and beyond the boundaries of the United States. Beyond domestic food production, the FA Sector also imports many ingredients and finished products, leading to a

Challenges With Pediatric Mass Care Feeding

Michael Prasad and Jennifer Russell May 10, 2023

The national-level guidance on mass care feeding for state, local, tribal, and territorial organizations (SLTTs) comes from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and is sourced from their toolkits and the National Mass Care Strategy website, which provides a consolidated and comprehensive set of guidance material from governmental and nongovernmental mass care experts. The

Perfect Storm: Albuterol Shortage & Supply Chain Upset

Tom Cotter May 3, 2023

As of 2020, albuterol was the seventh most commonly prescribed medication in the U.S., with more than an estimated 17 million patients receiving it and nearly 62 million prescriptions issued annually. Albuterol is a short-acting bronchodilator drug that helps treat or prevent respiratory issues by relaxing the smooth muscles in

Covenant School – Reviewing Another Tragic Shooting

Tanya M. Scherr and Daniel Scherr April 19, 2023

The Covenant School shooting is another reminder of active shooter trends. This article reviews the chain of events from that tragic event, post-incident reviews, and what communities are and should be doing to prepare for and prevent future active shooter incidents.

Biosafety Laboratory Issues and Failures

Robert C. Hutchinson April 12, 2023

Concerns regarding unexpected biological incidents and their public health implications were discussed in a 2014 Domestic Preparedness biosecurity and bioterrorism article. From the improper possession and storage of decades-old live smallpox virus in a former Food and Drug Administration laboratory (lab) on the National Institute of Health (NIH) campus to

Hazmat on the Rail

Glen Rudner April 5, 2023

Since February 3, 2023, following the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, the public has closely followed reports and commentary by media outlets and elected officials. This incident has become more controversial and publicized than others in recent years and has caused a public outcry for change.

Guidance for Preparing Professionals Mentally for the Worst

James Greenstone and Weldon Walles March 22, 2023

Professional groups have debated and researched the best practices relating to the standards and quality of care sufficient to maintain minimum standards during a disaster. Due to the fluid nature of a disaster, it is difficult to abide by a standard that will fit every situation. For example, the onset

A National Plan to Link Response and Recovery

Robert J. (Bob) Roller March 15, 2023

In March 2023, FEMA published the Response and Recovery Federal Interagency Operational Plan. Learn about this big step forward for the emergency management community – the development and content of this new plan as well as the next steps for key stakeholders.

Leader of the Pack – Canine Detection

Barb Clark March 8, 2023

In the wake of a disaster, time is critical for locating survivors and recovering bodies. This type of work requires training, skills, and abilities acquired by canines due to their unique anatomy and physiology. However, there are key considerations before implementing K9 programs.

An Integrated Public Safety Approach for Evolving Threats

Eva Jernegan March 1, 2023

Evolving threats require integrated public safety approaches. Concepts like the Rescue Task Force, models like the Cynefin Framework, and numerous other available resources can help communities develop collaborative response plans for evolving threats and complex coordinated attacks like fire as a weapon.

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