FIRE ARCHIVES
Resources in Waiting: EMS Task Forces
Joseph Cahill
May 8, 2007
“Just in Case” has been trumped by “Just in Time.” One result is that there is no surge capability that emergency managers can call on in times of major incidents. Unless, of course, an EMS Task Force is waiting in the wings.
The Well-Planned Use of Citizen Volunteers
Joseph Cahill
May 2, 2007
Many first-responder agencies routinely use “4×4 volunteers” to help out in hazardous-weather situations and other emergencies. This solution to community problems must be handled with care and requires careful planning by state/local decision makers.
Question – Is Anthrax Present, Too Long to Wait for an Answer
Kate Rosenblatt
April 25, 2007
Homeland-security experts believe the worst-case scenario for future terrorist attacks will involve biological-warfare agents such as anthrax rather than nuclear weapons. Which is why the numerous delays in the anti-anthrax program have aroused concern.
The Rationale for a Pessimistic Preparedness Planning Scenario
Michael Allswede
April 18, 2007
For most U.S. hospitals, planning for a mass-casualty disaster is an administrative afterthought. The result, frequently, is a counterproductive “game plan” based on rosy optimism and unproven assumptions.
Real Resources and Real Reforms: A Report from the Committee Chairman
Bennie G. Thompson
April 18, 2007
The chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security promises fast and effective action – and the provision of “real resources” – to improve U.S. domestic preparedness across the board, to protect American lives & the nation’s critical infrastructure.
Public Safety and Pandemic Influenza – Planning for the Inevitable
Mary Beth Michos
March 21, 2007
It has been almost four years since personnel in the U.S. health care industry started talking about the need to be prepared for a pandemic influenza. Initially, it seemed, everyone was getting on the bandwagon and committing the resources needed to plan and prepare for the outbreak. With the passage
CONTOMS: The Attributes of Excellence
Joseph Steger
March 7, 2007
In both the war on drugs and the current war on terrorism, CONTOMS (Counter Narcotics and Terrorism Medical Support) has been the leading training program for federal, state, and local Tactical Emergency Medical Support (TEMS) programs. Created in 1989, CONTOMS has evolved its training curriculum to meet ever-changing terrorist threats.
IEDs, RDDs, and Other Improvised Hazards
Joseph Cahill
February 14, 2007
When it seems likely that explosives have been used in a mass-casualty incident or “event,” the personnel responding must remember that additional, and bigger, explosions might soon follow and that they, the first responders, may be the target.
The TRP/ACU 1000: A Major Step Forward in Communications Interoperability
Brent Bankus
February 13, 2007
In today’s multiagency environment, first-responder mission-essential tasks have greatly expanded, making the need for a robust communications system capable of operating with other communications systems of various types and configurations a high-priority consideration. Simply speaking, communications interoperability means nothing more and nothing less than the ability of two or more
Homeland Security Begins at Home
Steny H. Hoyer
February 7, 2007
The House Majority Leader contrasts the President’s failure to focus on homeland security in his State of the Union speech with the swift passage of House Resolution One & the Democratic Party’s plans for a full package of implementing legislation later.
Pandemic Preparedness: The Driver for Most Suppliers
John F. Morton
January 31, 2007
Question: Is the United States prepared to deal with a biological-warfare attack? Answer: Not yet – but the nation’s private-sector biotech labs are working closely with state, local, and federal governments to detect, prevent, and/or deal with an attack.
Wicked Problems, Virtuous Solutions: How to Design a Risk-Based Medical Facility
Michael Allswede
January 24, 2007
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.
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