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EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES ARCHIVES

The Security of Healthcare Facilities – A Growing Challenge

Whether the situation involves person-on-person violence, forensic patient management, or the handling of patient property, healthcare facilities (HCFs) across the United States are finding themselves with a growing number of security-related issues that require well-trained and highly skilled security officers. Today’s healthcare facility security officer is no longer a “guard”

The Dangerous New World of the Social/Anti-Social Media

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.”

U.S.-Mexico Border Security – The Spillover Effect

Some statistical data suggest that the crime rate is rising along the U.S.-Mexico border and “spilling over” into the United States. Other data, however, suggest that such crime has actually declined in recent years. The differing results are greatly affected by the definition of “spillover,” gathering and interpreting accurate statistics,

Enhancing Zones to Protect the Emergency Responder

The top priority of the responders who are called to a fire or other incident, of course, is scene safety. To reduce the chances of those responders becoming victims themselves, fire departments should communicate and work closely with law enforcement agencies to better understand the perimeters and resources that the

Gas Refinery Attack in Algeria: The Lessons Learned (Mobile)

When the In Amenas Gas Refinery was attacked at the beginning of 2013, the swift actions of workers prevented the terrorists from fully implementing their plans, which would have created a greater tragedy and an even greater loss of lives. A lot can be learned by reviewing the events that

Gas Refinery Attack in Algeria: The Lessons Learned

When the In Amenas Gas Refinery was attacked at the beginning of 2013, the swift actions of workers prevented the terrorists from fully implementing their plans, which would have created a greater tragedy and an even greater loss of lives. A lot can be learned by reviewing the events that

Unique Dangers Posed by Lone-Wolf Terrorists

Members of terrorist organizations such as al-Qaida follow a general, albeit loose, organizational/leadership structure, which includes planning and communicating with other members of their group or cell. The sometimes greater danger posed by lone wolves, on the other hand, is that they are not limited by the views and actions

Staying Ahead of ‘The Big One’

When the average citizen is confronted by an emergency situation beyond the routine, he or she is usually overwhelmed and forced to rely on emergency responders to take command and re-establish control. Unfortunately, the first responders themselves do not always have the same option. Their first task, usually, is to

Implementing PPD-8: New Opportunities, Greater Challenges

Improving national resilience is a process that requires developing and promulgating new policies, defining missions and capabilities, and implementing change through training and education. As the two-year anniversary of Presidential Policy Directive 8 approaches, policy makers and responders are learning much more about the planning opportunities, and new challenges, they

Incident Command System: Perishable If Not Practiced

Although the basic Incident Command System (ICS) is taught across emergency response disciplines, several shortcomings and constraints could lead to its downfall. Training for ICS is not a one-time occurrence, but should be an ongoing process of expanding knowledge, exercising skills, and passing on these abilities for the benefit of

Preparing Health Professionals & Emergency Managers in 2013

National Security Special Events such as the presidential inauguration require dozens of committees working closely together to coordinate efforts to protect the health and security of all visitors and participants. Stationary and mobile medical units were strategically positioned to address any health concern that might arise.

Locked & Loaded in Syria

The Chemical Weapons Convention prohibits “the development, production, acquisition, stockpiling, retention, transfer or use of chemical weapons by States Parties.” However, when a nation refuses to sign the agreement and continues to stockpile chemical warfare agents, it raises worldwide concerns. In the case of Syria, its own citizens have good

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