EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES ARCHIVES
The Order of Saint John: Chivalry Is Not Dead
Joseph Cahill
July 14, 2010
Emergency Medical Services (EMS) agencies are a microcosm of medicine throughout the world. Although there is some variation in the details, EMS units in all industrialized countries are much the same as in the United States. The main variation is the nature of the staff providing care – i.e., some
REPORT FROM SPAIN: The Andalusian Approach
Alvaro Pemartin
July 14, 2010
“To each his own” – four little words with a host of different meanings, depending on the circumstances, but understood (and sometimes even followed) in every nation of the world. Another warning to the wise: “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.” And, it says here, “When in Andalusia
DomPrep Survey: Evacuation Planning
Domestic Preparedness and
July 14, 2010
Drenching rain, incredibly high winds, and bumper-to-bumper 30-mile traffic jams. The first two are
unavoidable when a hurricane strikes; but the traffic, and frustration, can be eased considerably if an
effective evacuation plan is in place. Please: TAKE THE SURVEY NOW.
Wisconsin Guard Helps Train Civilian Emergency Responders
Domestic Preparedness
June 30, 2010
About 120 personnel from more than 20 law enforcement agencies enhanced their awareness of weapon of mass destruction. The two-day training, spearheaded by the Madison-based 54th Civil Support Team, Wisconsin National Guard, ranged from briefings and equipment displays to hands-on training and tactical demonstrations at the Regional Emergency All-Climate Training
Needed: A Comprehensive Nuclear Forensics and Attribution Act
Vayl S. Oxford
June 30, 2010
U.S. homeland-security capabilities have improved immensely over the past decade. But there are
still too many gaps – in funding, in legislative authority, and in the dwindling pool of career-minded
nuclear scientists and engineers. A distinguished former DNDO official discusses some important steps
the executive and legislative branches of government can take to
Coping with Chaos: The Aftermath of a CBRNE Incident
Richard Schoeberl
June 23, 2010
U.S. emergency managers and worst-case planners have been warning for many years that the possibility of a WMD attack against American cities is a “when, not if” scenario. The nation’s ability to prevent, respond to, and recover from such an attack is much improved. But there are still serious deficiencies,
All Hazards Evacuations: All Means Every Disaster & Everyone
Kay C. Goss
June 23, 2010
No one – whether they be political decision makers, first responders, or individual citizens – will
ever be satisfied with less than perfect safety. But major advances have been made in detection,
deterrence, and response. One of the most important but relatively unpublicized advances is in the field
of crowd control and evacuations,
Lessons Learned From an ‘Almost’ Evacuation
Jennifer Smither
June 23, 2010
In December 2014, an unknown patient zero visited Disneyland in California. Whether that person knew that he or she was carrying a highly contagious infectious disease is not as important as the speed in which the disease spread and the reason behind it. There is a correlation between the resurgence
When Time Stops: Family Support After a Mass-Casualty Incident
Joseph Cahill
June 16, 2010
The rapid growth of mass-casualty incidents in recent years has led to much-needed new rules – now formulated at the federal level – to not only notify victims’ families and friends, and usually the media as well. Implementing those rules requires organizational skills, advance planning, compassion,
and an uncommon measure of
The Times Square Bombing Plot: What It Means For America
Neil C. Livingstone
June 9, 2010
Experts in aviation safety have long recognized that what is described as a “near miss” is actually
a “near hit.” The Times Square bombing attempt deserves the same unflinching judgment: Disaster was
avoided not because of the superior competence of DHS and TSA, but because of the greater incompetence
of a bungling amateur.
COOP Planning Becomes Major Concern for Healthcare Facilities
Raphael Barishansky
June 2, 2010
The best-laid plans of mice and men – not to mention emergency managers and healthcare officials – can oft go awry. That is particularly true, almost guaranteed in fact, when the plans are only on paper, the emergency assets needed have not been secured, and the numerous other actions needed
Preparing for Unexpected Hospital Surges
Jennifer Smither
May 26, 2010
Some of the best “solutions” create other problems, as Canada found out during the 2003 SARS outbreak. Once again, the best way to avoid such secondary problems is through advance planning, plus training and exercises, with all stakeholders involved every step of the way.
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