Most recently published
Military and Civilian Burn Management: Lessons Learned
Christopher Holland
June 18, 2008
The U.S. military and civilian medical communities mingle, mix, and learn from one another, particularly in the highly specialized, but extremely important, field of burn care.
Interim Housing Following Disasters: The FEMA Temporary Housing Program
Kay C. Goss
June 18, 2008
After presidentially declared disasters, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) offers Direct Assistance – in the form of campers, trailers, and mobile homes – to those who are without shelter. Direct Assistance is available to eligible applicants in addition to cash grants.Disaster survivors are often assigned a camper, trailer, or
NIMS Training Plans: An Effort Without End
Stephen Grainer
June 16, 2008
From George Washington’s days to the present, U.S. leaders have adhered to the credo that “Eternal Vigilance” is “the price of freedom.” Today, those wise words of warning are applicable, with only a slight modification, to the efforts of federal, state, and local officials seeking to meet National Incident Management
Plan Nationally, Respond Locally
Joseph Cahill
June 11, 2008
Flexibility, common sense, and operational efficiency are the hallmarks of the new National Response Framework, which builds on the solid but sometimes too rigid foundation of its predecessor doctrine, the National Response Plan.
Developing Competency for Disaster Medical Response Situations
Michael Allswede
June 4, 2008
The treatment of victims of mass-casualty incidents is probably the greatest challenge facing the U.S. medical community – but, in most of the nation’s medical schools, ranks lowest on the academic priority list.
The Intro 650 Debate: NYC’s Controversial Threat-Detector Legislation
Diana Hopkins
May 28, 2008
Mayor Bloomberg and the New York City Council say that passage of Intro 650 is essential to protect NYC from future terrorist attacks. Opponents see fatal flaws in the bill, and want answers to some important questions.
Backups for Emergency Satellite Communications
Kay C. Goss
May 28, 2008
In today’s fast-moving world comprehensive, rapid, & continuing communications are the key to business success – and, in times of conflict, success on the battlefield as well. But what happens if communications systems are destroyed or made inoperable?
Excellence in Education: Georgia’s New CHEC Course
Gina Piazza
May 28, 2008
The duties & responsibilities of hospital emergency coordinators are extremely complex and specialized. A new course of studies sponsored by the Georgia Department of Human Resources provides the framework needed for three levels of CHEC certification.
Detection Equipment – An Ever Higher Technology Ceiling
Glen Rudner
May 21, 2008
Emergency-response teams across the nation have a continuing need for portable, reliable instruments that can be used to quickly and accurately characterize the hazardous materials known or likely to be encountered on the scene of a broad spectrum of incidents ranging from traffic accidents to chemical explosions to major fires.
Three to Get Ready
James D. Hessman
May 21, 2008
The could-have/should-have (but did not) scenarios of the past serve as abundant reminders that the cost of national preparedness is only a fraction of the much higher cost that must always be paid for not being prepared.
The Design of the Future U.S. Hospital System
James Augustine
May 14, 2008
U.S. healthcare officials, working in close cooperation with long-range planners & political decision makers, are already pondering what the nation’s future hospital infrastructure should look like. Here are some ideas to consider.
Fleet Decontamination During a Pandemic
Joseph Cahill
May 14, 2008
Decontamination, disinfection, and the use of liquid hand cleaners – all are among the most important “weapons” in the first-responder community’s fight against a potential flu pandemic. And it’s a battle to the death. Literally.
Proven Reliability: Always the Most Essential Consideration
Diana Hopkins
June 25, 2008
Those responsible for buying emergency-response products such as instruments and devices can be easily overwhelmed by the huge number of choices available. For that reason, it is important that purchasing departments (and individual buyers) develop and implement a prioritized purchasing system – one that places proven reliability as a principal criterion in
Military and Civilian Burn Management: Lessons Learned
Christopher Holland
June 18, 2008
The U.S. military and civilian medical communities mingle, mix, and learn from one another, particularly in the highly specialized, but extremely important, field of burn care.
Interim Housing Following Disasters: The FEMA Temporary Housing Program
Kay C. Goss
June 18, 2008
After presidentially declared disasters, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) offers Direct Assistance – in the form of campers, trailers, and mobile homes – to those who are without shelter. Direct Assistance is available to eligible applicants in addition to cash grants.Disaster survivors are often assigned a camper, trailer, or
NIMS Training Plans: An Effort Without End
Stephen Grainer
June 16, 2008
From George Washington’s days to the present, U.S. leaders have adhered to the credo that “Eternal Vigilance” is “the price of freedom.” Today, those wise words of warning are applicable, with only a slight modification, to the efforts of federal, state, and local officials seeking to meet National Incident Management
Plan Nationally, Respond Locally
Joseph Cahill
June 11, 2008
Flexibility, common sense, and operational efficiency are the hallmarks of the new National Response Framework, which builds on the solid but sometimes too rigid foundation of its predecessor doctrine, the National Response Plan.
Developing Competency for Disaster Medical Response Situations
Michael Allswede
June 4, 2008
The treatment of victims of mass-casualty incidents is probably the greatest challenge facing the U.S. medical community – but, in most of the nation’s medical schools, ranks lowest on the academic priority list.
The Intro 650 Debate: NYC’s Controversial Threat-Detector Legislation
Diana Hopkins
May 28, 2008
Mayor Bloomberg and the New York City Council say that passage of Intro 650 is essential to protect NYC from future terrorist attacks. Opponents see fatal flaws in the bill, and want answers to some important questions.
Backups for Emergency Satellite Communications
Kay C. Goss
May 28, 2008
In today’s fast-moving world comprehensive, rapid, & continuing communications are the key to business success – and, in times of conflict, success on the battlefield as well. But what happens if communications systems are destroyed or made inoperable?
Excellence in Education: Georgia’s New CHEC Course
Gina Piazza
May 28, 2008
The duties & responsibilities of hospital emergency coordinators are extremely complex and specialized. A new course of studies sponsored by the Georgia Department of Human Resources provides the framework needed for three levels of CHEC certification.
Detection Equipment – An Ever Higher Technology Ceiling
Glen Rudner
May 21, 2008
Emergency-response teams across the nation have a continuing need for portable, reliable instruments that can be used to quickly and accurately characterize the hazardous materials known or likely to be encountered on the scene of a broad spectrum of incidents ranging from traffic accidents to chemical explosions to major fires.
Three to Get Ready
James D. Hessman
May 21, 2008
The could-have/should-have (but did not) scenarios of the past serve as abundant reminders that the cost of national preparedness is only a fraction of the much higher cost that must always be paid for not being prepared.
The Design of the Future U.S. Hospital System
James Augustine
May 14, 2008
U.S. healthcare officials, working in close cooperation with long-range planners & political decision makers, are already pondering what the nation’s future hospital infrastructure should look like. Here are some ideas to consider.
Proactive Standards Development for Emergency Responders
Diana Hopkins
April 23, 2008
Anything worth doing is worth doing well – and in accordance with established standards not only acceptable to experienced professionals but also recognized by the community at large as both valid and necessary.
Mass-Fatality Management Planning – A Hospital Perspective
Craig DeAtley
April 23, 2008
Most U.S. hospitals & other healthcare facilities focus their efforts on saving lives & helping those who are seriously injured. The handling of the dead, sometimes a large number at the same time, is a different but almost equally important skill.
The Myth of the Cordon Sanitaire
Michael Allswede
April 16, 2008
The operational as well as theoretical concept of the “cordon sanitaire” – a French phrase literally translated as “quarantine line” – is one of containment. Originally, cordon sanitaire referred to the segregation of persons suffering from communicable and untreatable diseases from their healthy fellow citizens through use of a physical
Debris Recycling – Transforming Disasters Into Opportunities
Kirby McCrary
April 16, 2008
After the storm comes the rainbow. Supposedly. After a disaster comes the debris – and the problem of what to do with it. Surprisingly, perhaps, there are some profitable solutions that should be considered.
Resource-Typing Implications for EMS and Emergency Management
Joseph Cahill
April 9, 2008
Attention to detail is frequently the principal difference between the success, or failure, of any human endeavor. That is particularly true in times of sudden disaster, when “mere words” – precisely expressed – may have life-or-death implications.
The Creation of a Home Guard for Domestic Preparedness
Lawrence J. Korb and Ian Moss
April 2, 2008
At a time when defense of the U.S. homeland is a major concern, the National Guard is playing a much-increased role in U.S. operations overseas. The best way to fill the capabilities gap is to establish a non-deployable Home Guard under the Department.
The Gateway Key to Synergistic Communications
Stephan Macke
March 26, 2008
Thanks to mutual-aid compacts between neighboring political jurisdictions, first-responder cooperation at mass-casualty incidents is often a multi-agency effort. But before the agencies can work together they must first be able to speak the same language.
Greater Responsibilities, More Recognition for Hospital Emergency Managers
Theodore Tully
March 19, 2008
The healthcare failures during and in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina received more publicity than the many unpublicized successes. Nonetheless, a new look at hospital emergency management was obviously needed, and is now well underway.
Incident Action Plans for Hazmat/WMD Incidents
Glen Rudner
March 12, 2008
A quick but accurate analysis of unknown but potentially lethal agents detected by first responders at the scene of a mass-casualty incident can save many, many lives. That analysis requires skill, knowledge, and state-of-the-art analytical equipment.
Partnerships at Work in Public Health Planning
Steven Harrison
March 12, 2008
The Commonwealth of Virginia once again provides a best-practices example of the best way to plan for a potential mass-casualty disaster: Ensure that all stakeholders, private-sector as well as government, are fully involved ahead of time, and practice.
Force Protection – First, Protect the Protectors
Joseph Cahill
March 5, 2008
Not enough masks and/or medical supplies – those shortages can be overcome. But when there are not enough EMTs or paramedics, or if those who are available are among the early victims, there is no quick and easy way to find replacements.
U.S. Businesses Respond to Community Needs
Kay C. Goss
February 27, 2008
Three Cheers for three retail giants – WalMart, Home Depot, and Lowe’s, all of which stepped forward to provide urgently needed building materials and the mountains of other supplies required to help restore order in the aftermath of Hurricanes and Rita.
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