Fire Archives

When the First Down Becomes the Worst Down

Joseph Cahill October 2, 2013

Automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) are available in many modern venues, but are still underutilized. By building awareness and training for AED use as well as understanding the plans and procedures in place for managing such emergencies, school staff can increase the survival rates of young athletes who suffer from cardiac

Healthcare Preparedness – The Resilience Challenge

James Augustine October 2, 2013

As the nation’s circumstances change, unexpected events unfold, and funding shifts, the priorities of the U.S. healthcare system must change with them. The location and timing of the bomb attacks at the Boston Marathon this year helped reduce the number of lives lost, but that incident still raised new concerns

Building Resilience Early & Geographically

Stephen McElroy September 11, 2013

Earthquakes have changed the course of rivers, tornadoes have uprooted and moved trees and homes, and other types of disasters have caused terrain and geographical changes that made it difficult for residents to recognize their own neighborhoods. Geographic information systems offer emergency managers and responders a valuable tool to help

A Network of Interoperability

Charles L. Werner September 11, 2013

The Charlottesville Fire Department has been able to turn a difficult and labor-intensive task into a relatively simple daily routine. Having the right tools to communicate with other organizations, and to receive timely and accurate information, makes incident command operations easier to manage.

Worst-Case Scenarios: Sudden & Total Isolation

Joseph Cahill September 4, 2013

The setting of national standards for the personal protective equipment worn and training received by first responders working in a hazardous-materials environment is a positive step forward.

NDMS Builds Capabilities With Fundamentals Course

Domestic Preparedness September 3, 2013

The National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) is charged with augmenting the nation’s medical response in support of state and local authorities. To accomplish its mission, the NDMS has employed Disaster Medical Assistance Teams (DMATs) – consisting of professional medical personnel, supported by logistics and administrative teams – across the country.

Radioactive Sources – An Invisible Hazard

Stephen Jolly August 21, 2013

Medical and industrial facilities, universities and colleges, cargo containers, and floodwaters have something in common with nuclear power plants – all of them can be a source of nuclear radiation. Knowing where radiation might be “hiding” within a community is the first step that emergency managers should take to protect

Radiological Emergencies – Public Health Responsibilities/Challenges

Audrey Mazurek and Raphael M. Barishansky August 14, 2013

Over the past decade, U.S. public health agencies (local, state, and federal) have seen an increase of responsibility in preparing for, responding to, recovering from, and mitigating emergencies. In addition to planning for responses to naturally occurring disease outbreaks, these agencies are often key partners in responding to weather

Passenger Air Travel – When the Bullets Run Out

Clay W. Biles August 14, 2013

In a passenger aircraft, there is nowhere to run when something suddenly goes wrong. Which is the primary reason that U.S. air marshals are now flying, strategically seated, on many domestic and international flights to thwart a possible terrorist threat against the aircraft and its passengers. The air marshals are

Nuclear Meltdown – The Need for Timely & Honest Information

Janette D. Sherman and Joseph J. Mangano August 14, 2013

Similarities can be drawn between two nuclear disasters that occurred 27 years apart, in different countries. Dealing with a nuclear disaster in the United States or elsewhere still requires having accurate information – which must be delivered in time to help emergency responders deal with potentially major consequences. As long

Special Decontamination Considerations: Bridging the Gap

Ryan Hay August 12, 2013

Following exposure to radiological or other hazardous materials, decontamination efforts often focus on the people directly involved, but other concerns also must be considered – the use of weapons and/or possible harm to animals, for example. Pennsylvania’s Lehigh County has developed a best practices approach to ensuring that response teams

Hospital Decontamination – High Costs & Limited Benefits

Craig DeAtley August 7, 2013

Article Out Loud The primary reason why the Emergency Department of almost any U.S. hospital or other healthcare facility should be ready and able to respond to a hazardous material release is to protect patients, staff, and the hospitals’ own facilities from avoidable contamination. However, unlike many other patient-care procedures

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