Most recently published
TRANSCAER Launches Online Safety Training
Domestic Preparedness
May 17, 2011
TRANSCAER® (Transportation Community Awareness and Emergency Response) has launched its first-ever Anhydrous Ammonia Training online training program to educate and train officials across the country on emergency responses to anhydrous ammonia incidents.
Staffing, Stockpiling & Surging Forward
Joseph Cahill
May 11, 2011
As most people know, it is impossible to be totally prepared, at all times, to cope with any and all disasters of any type and of any magnitude imaginable. But there are many common-sense steps that can be taken to lessen the impact of most if not all of the
Critical Issues Faced by MRC in a Special Needs Shelter
Amy Schmitt, Donald Brannen and Mark McDonnell
May 11, 2011
The chill wind that started on 31 January immobilized a major area of the country and brought ice, snow, sleet, and misery to 100 million Americans. Among the hardest hit were numerous special-needs patients, already incapacitated, waiting for help that came far too late or, in some cases, not at
Whole-Body Imaging: A Safe Alternative to the ‘Pat Down’
Aaron Sean Poynton
May 4, 2011
Several myths to the contrary notwithstanding, the new WBI passenger screening booths installed at U.S. airports to improve in-flight security are not only extremely safe but also both visually and morally unobjectionable. For those not convinced, there are other options, including a quick and unobtrusive pat down – in a
Public Health Monitoring Systems: Two ‘Good Stories’
Jennifer Smither
May 4, 2011
New Jersey calls on Hippocrates to help top officials cope with a major mass-casualty incident with significant international implications; the initial result was a burning success. In Tarrant County, Texas, NACCHO and school nurses put the emphasis on children in fighting the flu and both detecting and controlling the outbreak
Dispensing a Higher Health Care Role to Pharmacists
Diana Hopkins
April 20, 2011
U.S. doctors, nurses, and other health care professionals are the best in the world – also among the most overworked. Fortunately, a greater share of the workload can be assumed by another highly trained & well educated group of medical professionals, the nation’s pharmacists – who also will play a
A Quick Return on Investments in Food Safety
Shari Shea
April 13, 2011
Question: Does a sausage leave a fingerprint? Answer: Well, yes, sort of – but not one detectable by the naked eye. Read here to find out how CDC, the APHL, PulseNet, and epidemiologists from five mid-Atlantic states worked hand-in-glove (literally) to crack “The Dangerous Case of the Fermented Sausage” in
Dollars and Sense: Budgeting for Emergency Services
Joseph Cahill
April 13, 2011
What is both fair and equitable? What is legally permissible? And how much of the total cost should be paid by the community at large? Those are but three of the difficult questions facing firefighters, EMS providers, and public officials as they seek to save lives, provide the public services
The Role of Patient Tracking in Public Health Practice
W. Craig Vanderwagen
April 13, 2011
Part 2 of Dr. Vanderwagen’s groundbreaking five-part series on the numerous – and extremely difficult – challenges involved in implementing the U.S. National Health Security Strategy.
FINAL REPORT: Special Event Planning
Robert (Bob) Stephan
April 12, 2011
Compelling information for responders, receivers, planners, and managers. This report focuses on the importance of training and preparing for a large-scale disaster during a special event. Audio links included.
Public Health: Assessing the Hazards & Vulnerabilities
Raphael M. Barishansky and Audrey Mazurek
April 6, 2011
The first priority of would-be “problem solvers” should be to find out, in as much detail as possible, exactly what the problem is. That is particularly true, it says here, in dealing with major and extremely complicated problems involving, and quite possibly jeopardizing, the continued good health of thousands of
TRANSCAER Rolls Out Nationwide Safety Training Tour
Domestic Preparedness
April 1, 2011
TRANSCAER® has launched a nationwide Anhydrous Ammonia Training Tour, designed to educate and train officials in 27 states across the country on effective emergency responses to anhydrous ammonia incidents.
Hospitals & Fire Departments: Three-Alarm Fires, MSH & Best-Practice Results
Theodore Tully
May 18, 2011
A major fire in one of the nation’s finest hospitals led quickly to: (a) the massive evacuation of almost 450 patients; and (b) numerous follow-up meetings to find out what had gone wrong and how to handle such incidents more quickly, and more effectively, in the future. The end result
TRANSCAER Launches Online Safety Training
Domestic Preparedness
May 17, 2011
TRANSCAER® (Transportation Community Awareness and Emergency Response) has launched its first-ever Anhydrous Ammonia Training online training program to educate and train officials across the country on emergency responses to anhydrous ammonia incidents.
Staffing, Stockpiling & Surging Forward
Joseph Cahill
May 11, 2011
As most people know, it is impossible to be totally prepared, at all times, to cope with any and all disasters of any type and of any magnitude imaginable. But there are many common-sense steps that can be taken to lessen the impact of most if not all of the
Critical Issues Faced by MRC in a Special Needs Shelter
Amy Schmitt, Donald Brannen and Mark McDonnell
May 11, 2011
The chill wind that started on 31 January immobilized a major area of the country and brought ice, snow, sleet, and misery to 100 million Americans. Among the hardest hit were numerous special-needs patients, already incapacitated, waiting for help that came far too late or, in some cases, not at
Whole-Body Imaging: A Safe Alternative to the ‘Pat Down’
Aaron Sean Poynton
May 4, 2011
Several myths to the contrary notwithstanding, the new WBI passenger screening booths installed at U.S. airports to improve in-flight security are not only extremely safe but also both visually and morally unobjectionable. For those not convinced, there are other options, including a quick and unobtrusive pat down – in a
Public Health Monitoring Systems: Two ‘Good Stories’
Jennifer Smither
May 4, 2011
New Jersey calls on Hippocrates to help top officials cope with a major mass-casualty incident with significant international implications; the initial result was a burning success. In Tarrant County, Texas, NACCHO and school nurses put the emphasis on children in fighting the flu and both detecting and controlling the outbreak
Dispensing a Higher Health Care Role to Pharmacists
Diana Hopkins
April 20, 2011
U.S. doctors, nurses, and other health care professionals are the best in the world – also among the most overworked. Fortunately, a greater share of the workload can be assumed by another highly trained & well educated group of medical professionals, the nation’s pharmacists – who also will play a
A Quick Return on Investments in Food Safety
Shari Shea
April 13, 2011
Question: Does a sausage leave a fingerprint? Answer: Well, yes, sort of – but not one detectable by the naked eye. Read here to find out how CDC, the APHL, PulseNet, and epidemiologists from five mid-Atlantic states worked hand-in-glove (literally) to crack “The Dangerous Case of the Fermented Sausage” in
Dollars and Sense: Budgeting for Emergency Services
Joseph Cahill
April 13, 2011
What is both fair and equitable? What is legally permissible? And how much of the total cost should be paid by the community at large? Those are but three of the difficult questions facing firefighters, EMS providers, and public officials as they seek to save lives, provide the public services
The Role of Patient Tracking in Public Health Practice
W. Craig Vanderwagen
April 13, 2011
Part 2 of Dr. Vanderwagen’s groundbreaking five-part series on the numerous – and extremely difficult – challenges involved in implementing the U.S. National Health Security Strategy.
FINAL REPORT: Special Event Planning
Robert (Bob) Stephan
April 12, 2011
Compelling information for responders, receivers, planners, and managers. This report focuses on the importance of training and preparing for a large-scale disaster during a special event. Audio links included.
Public Health: Assessing the Hazards & Vulnerabilities
Raphael M. Barishansky and Audrey Mazurek
April 6, 2011
The first priority of would-be “problem solvers” should be to find out, in as much detail as possible, exactly what the problem is. That is particularly true, it says here, in dealing with major and extremely complicated problems involving, and quite possibly jeopardizing, the continued good health of thousands of
National Level Exercise Roundtable
Kay C. Goss
March 29, 2011
In the early 1800s, the New Madrid Seismic Zone, centered in the southeast corner of Missouri, was the site of the largest earthquake in U.S. history. The question is not if another quake will occur in that area, but when will it happen. Listen to Kay Goss’s roundtable discussion on
The Complex Biology of Chemical Threats
Diana Hopkins
March 23, 2011
Chemicals are chemicals and biologicals are biologicals, but there are some substances – particularly useful in terrorist attacks – that are a little bit of both. Here is a short list of some but by no means all of these potentially lethal substances now receiving greater attention not only from
CBRNE: Warnings Heard, But Not Heeded
Richard Schoeberl
March 23, 2011
Question #1: Is the United States prepared to cope with new terrorist attacks in which CBRNE weapons are used to destroy the nation’s critical infrastructure and kill thousands of U.S. citizens at the same time? Answer: Not yet, but policy guidelines have been established and the long-range planning process has
Public Works Emergency Management – From Training to Reality
David Geary and Tracy Fessler
March 23, 2011
For understandable reasons, major disasters – e.g., earthquakes and tsunamis – get most of the headlines and more of the public funds available even in economically difficult times. Local jurisdictions would be well advised, therefore, not only to focus greater attention on emergencies closer to home but also to ask
Concepts on Information Sharing and Interoperability
John Contestabile
March 23, 2011
The distinguished former director of Maryland’s DOT Engineering & Emergency Services presents his knowledgeable views on the effective use of design to improve and facilitate not only all-hazards long-range planning but also incident-response capabilities and on-site effectiveness.
Finding Comfort Around the World
Catherine L. Feinman
March 16, 2011
The Navy Hospital Ship USNS Comfort was pushed into the spotlight last year during its 60-day disaster-relief mission in Haiti following the massive 7.0 earthquake that struck that tortured island on 12 January 2010. Formerly the SS Rose City, an oil tanker, the Comfort has actually been carrying out a broad range of disaster-relief, humanitarian-assistance,
Implementing the National Health Security Strategy
W. Craig Vanderwagen
March 16, 2011
Question #1: Is the United States prepared to cope with new terrorist attacks in which CBRNE weapons are used to destroy the nation’s critical infrastructure and kill thousands of U.S. citizens at the same time? Answer: Not yet, but policy guidelines have been established and the long-range planning process has
Future Chemical Challenges: Common Operating Picture Needed to Manage Common Problems
Michael E. Forgey
March 9, 2011
Future chemical challenges facing the United States far into the foreseeable future will be both more frequent and more deadly than those encountered in the halcyon years of the 20th century. Which is why the time is NOW to prepare to meet those challenges head-on and, if prevention does not
U.S. National Security: Does the Industrial Base Still Matter
Stephen Reeves
March 9, 2011
Well, there is really only one buyer – the U.S. government. And the executive and legislative branches of that government are under extreme pressure to “cut the budget” as much and as quickly as possible. The only problem is that this year’s easy choices may never be available again. But
The Great Central U.S. ShakeOut
Domestic Preparedness
March 7, 2011
All citizens should not only be better prepared for major earthquakes but also practice how to protect themselves if and when earthquakes actually occur. The goal of the Great Central ShakeOut, which is hosted by the Central United States Earthquake Consortium (CUSEC), is to help people and organizations meet both
DHS Announces Release of New Training Course: Workplace Security Awareness
Domestic Preparedness
March 5, 2011
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced the availability of IS-906, Workplace Security Awareness, a no-cost training course developed by the department’s Office of Infrastructure Protection Sector-Specific Agency Executive Management Office. The online training now available provides guidance to individuals and organizations on how to improve security in the
Tailoring an Emergency Operations Plan
Raphael M. Barishansky and Audrey Mazurek
March 2, 2011
The old tailor’s maxim – “Measure twice; cut once” – is also a suitable approach to the writing of an all-hazards Emergency Operations Plan for a health department. Here is a comprehensive and easy-to-follow guide to the planning, writing, reviewing, and approval processes necessary to the drafting, development, and dissemination
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