FIRE ARCHIVES
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
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 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.
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
The Continuing Battle Over Privacy vs. Security
Ellen C. Cornelius
October 14, 2015
In this electronic age, there is a constant struggle between sharing critical information and protecting individual privacy with adequate security to prevent data and documents from falling into the wrong hands. To address these concerns, expectations of privacy, knowledge of liabilities, and development of policies must be examined.
Running to the Police, Not Away From Them
Rodrigo (Roddy) Moscoso
October 7, 2015
Building sustainable communities is a long-term effort that includes reestablishing positive relationships between police departments and the communities they serve. Repairing these damaged relationships means changing the visual perception, improving communication, providing education, and building awareness for the community members.
Congress to Decide Funding for Public Health Emergencies
LaMar Hasbrouck
September 28, 2015
Federal spending on public health emergency preparedness, response, and recovery has been falling since 2005, and Congress is now considering how much to spend in the 2016 fiscal year. The final spending figure will play a key role in determining how well the American people are protected from disease, injury,
A Federal Agency’s Journey to Protect Its Workforce From Infectious Diseases
Robert J. (Bob) Roller
September 23, 2015
From a presidential executive order to comprehensive workforce protection, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s infectious disease protection process is constantly evolving. The department’s centralized guidance/decentralized execution planning paradigm with reliance on a robust lessons learned process ensures an increasingly resilient workforce against biological threats and hazards.
The Politics of School Safety & Security
Wayne Bergeron
September 23, 2015
Sir Earnest Benn, political publisher and British baronet (1875-1954) once said that, “Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it whether it exists or not, diagnosing it incorrectly, and applying the wrong remedy.” For school safety and security, the stakes of getting it wrong are too high to
Setting & Maintaining Realistic Recovery Expectations
Stephen Grainer
August 26, 2015
There are many challenges as well as numerous nuances associated with disaster recovery operations that must be addressed by all levels of governmental, nongovernmental, and private sector agencies and organizations in order to ensure ongoing attention to all facets of the recovery effort, effectively building a resilient community.
