Most recently published
Designing a National Infectious-Agent Detection System
James Augustine
November 21, 2012
Hospitals and other medical facilities are rapidly evolving into a true national healthcare system that can more effectively meet the 21st-century threats posed by terrorist acts and infectious diseases. Fortunately, systems and technological capabilities needed to cope with such threats, particularly those involving infectious agents, is already available.
Smallpox – Still a Viable Bioterrorist Threat
Richard Schoeberl
November 18, 2012
Article Out Loud The 9/11 terrorist attacks against the United States and, shortly thereafter, the mailing of anthrax spores to several news agencies and the offices of two U.S. Senators became evidence of the need to improve U.S. homeland security in general and the nation’s biosecurity capabilities in particular. Congress
Biodefense – Protecting Public Health
Raphael M. Barishansky
November 14, 2012
As the threat of a biological attack against the United States increases, the nation’s public health sector faces many hurdles, including funding cuts and difficulties in integrating the plans and policies of various levels of government – and with the private sector. Since the 9/11 attacks, greater focus has been
Early Warning: The Front Line of Biodefense
Patrick P. Rose
November 14, 2012
During and after a known or suspected biological attack, most events initially play out in local hospitals where the first symptoms caused by a toxic agent are recognized. Raising awareness among medical staff and expanding current training programs will help healthcare providers respond to a possible biological event both more
Not All Components Are Equal, But All Are Essential
Joseph Cahill
November 7, 2012
Implementation of the guidelines undergirding new national anti-terrorism policies will be a major challenge for state & local health departments. But the end result will be a better coordinated and much more effective national healthcare community.
Planning Needs for Staff Medication Dispensing
Craig DeAtley
November 7, 2012
Three modes of operation, two of which might strain the trained EMS personnel resources immediately available but would not overwhelm them. Preparing for the third mode, a sudden mass-casualty scenario, must be done carefully and thoughtfully.
Critical Intersection of Diagnostics and Countermeasures
Chris Mangal
October 29, 2012
A biological agent is released, samples are collected, and then the diagnostic process begins. Laboratories within a national (and international) network screen for potential threats and determine the level of exposure and treatment required for each response. Such diagnostics provide the guidelines necessary for using and distributing medical countermeasures.
The Use of mHealth Technology for Pandemic Preparedness
Sara Rubin
October 24, 2012
The influenza pandemic of 1918-1919 killed more than 600,000 people in the United States alone and an estimated 20 million or more victims worldwide. Today, infectious diseases continue to pose a significant health security threat to nations throughout the world. Because of the increasing mobility of the global population, it
Concurrent Distribution of Anthrax Vaccine & Antibiotics
Sarah Keally
October 24, 2012
Current plans for combatting the effects of an anthrax attack at the local level include the use of antibiotics. Although federal agencies recommend – and the Strategic National Stockpile provides – anthrax vaccine adsorbed as a medical countermeasure against such attacks, the vaccine currently is not included in the preparedness
State & Local Medical Countermeasures: The 12-Hour Push
Kay C. Goss
October 17, 2012
Emergency managers are working hard, on a continuing basis, to improve and support the national capability to assist in providing assets to affected areas during an extreme biological incident or emergency requiring medical countermeasures.
Draeger Hosts Free Firefighter Webinar on Thermal Imaging Cameras
Domestic Preparedness
October 17, 2012
Dräger announces that it will hold a free webinar entitled “Expect More from Your Thermal Imaging Camera!” to educate firefighters on how today’s new thermal imaging camera technology can help them on the job.
Identifying & Isolating Bio-Threats Before They Present
Patrick P. Rose
October 17, 2012
An emerging infectious disease or a bioterrorism attack must be prevented from spreading globally even when the effectiveness of predictive measures and detection programs is in question. In addition to current medical countermeasures, defending against biological threats may require the enforcement of control measures that rely on non-medical public health
Biodefense: Eliminating the Threat
W. Craig Vanderwagen
November 21, 2012
“Success” in the interdiction and prevention modes of biodefense depends primarily on the assets and efforts of the intelligence and military communities, but in the response/recovery and deterrence modes rests largely in the domain of the emergency management community. Effective performance in all modes ultimately can lead not only to
Designing a National Infectious-Agent Detection System
James Augustine
November 21, 2012
Hospitals and other medical facilities are rapidly evolving into a true national healthcare system that can more effectively meet the 21st-century threats posed by terrorist acts and infectious diseases. Fortunately, systems and technological capabilities needed to cope with such threats, particularly those involving infectious agents, is already available.
Smallpox – Still a Viable Bioterrorist Threat
Richard Schoeberl
November 18, 2012
Article Out Loud The 9/11 terrorist attacks against the United States and, shortly thereafter, the mailing of anthrax spores to several news agencies and the offices of two U.S. Senators became evidence of the need to improve U.S. homeland security in general and the nation’s biosecurity capabilities in particular. Congress
Biodefense – Protecting Public Health
Raphael M. Barishansky
November 14, 2012
As the threat of a biological attack against the United States increases, the nation’s public health sector faces many hurdles, including funding cuts and difficulties in integrating the plans and policies of various levels of government – and with the private sector. Since the 9/11 attacks, greater focus has been
Early Warning: The Front Line of Biodefense
Patrick P. Rose
November 14, 2012
During and after a known or suspected biological attack, most events initially play out in local hospitals where the first symptoms caused by a toxic agent are recognized. Raising awareness among medical staff and expanding current training programs will help healthcare providers respond to a possible biological event both more
Not All Components Are Equal, But All Are Essential
Joseph Cahill
November 7, 2012
Implementation of the guidelines undergirding new national anti-terrorism policies will be a major challenge for state & local health departments. But the end result will be a better coordinated and much more effective national healthcare community.
Planning Needs for Staff Medication Dispensing
Craig DeAtley
November 7, 2012
Three modes of operation, two of which might strain the trained EMS personnel resources immediately available but would not overwhelm them. Preparing for the third mode, a sudden mass-casualty scenario, must be done carefully and thoughtfully.
Critical Intersection of Diagnostics and Countermeasures
Chris Mangal
October 29, 2012
A biological agent is released, samples are collected, and then the diagnostic process begins. Laboratories within a national (and international) network screen for potential threats and determine the level of exposure and treatment required for each response. Such diagnostics provide the guidelines necessary for using and distributing medical countermeasures.
The Use of mHealth Technology for Pandemic Preparedness
Sara Rubin
October 24, 2012
The influenza pandemic of 1918-1919 killed more than 600,000 people in the United States alone and an estimated 20 million or more victims worldwide. Today, infectious diseases continue to pose a significant health security threat to nations throughout the world. Because of the increasing mobility of the global population, it
Concurrent Distribution of Anthrax Vaccine & Antibiotics
Sarah Keally
October 24, 2012
Current plans for combatting the effects of an anthrax attack at the local level include the use of antibiotics. Although federal agencies recommend – and the Strategic National Stockpile provides – anthrax vaccine adsorbed as a medical countermeasure against such attacks, the vaccine currently is not included in the preparedness
State & Local Medical Countermeasures: The 12-Hour Push
Kay C. Goss
October 17, 2012
Emergency managers are working hard, on a continuing basis, to improve and support the national capability to assist in providing assets to affected areas during an extreme biological incident or emergency requiring medical countermeasures.
Draeger Hosts Free Firefighter Webinar on Thermal Imaging Cameras
Domestic Preparedness
October 17, 2012
Dräger announces that it will hold a free webinar entitled “Expect More from Your Thermal Imaging Camera!” to educate firefighters on how today’s new thermal imaging camera technology can help them on the job.
Addressing Key Policy Issues Before the Next Catastrophe
Ann Lesperance
October 10, 2012
Economic redevelopment, waste and fatality management, and the prioritization of cleanup operations are just a few of the key policy issues that decision makers must consider and address before the next anthrax attack or other disaster strikes. Having a clear strategy, effective management plans, and solid relationships with partners who
Breaking the Rules to Save Lives
Joseph Cahill
October 3, 2012
No two emergency scenarios are identical and some may call for “creative” solutions – for example, overriding triage strategies for victims of a weapon of mass destruction or substituting medications for scarce countermeasures. Understanding the rules and how far they can “bend” in a crisis situation may help save not
Nontraditional Partnerships Advance Medical Countermeasure Dispensing
Greg Burel
October 3, 2012
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) is changing the dynamics of public-private partnerships as they relate to medical countermeasures for public health threats. By using nontraditional partnerships, CDC is not only providing easier access but also reducing the time needed to dispense large quantities of antiviral drugs,
Understanding the Mobile Detection Deployment Program
The Domestic Nuclear Detection Office
September 26, 2012
Terrorist threats of radiologicaluclear attacks continue to raise concern at all levels of government. To assist state and local responders during “surge” events, the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office maintains detection units that can be deployed, along with laboratory personnel, to supplement the jurisdictions’ existing radiological and nuclear detection capabilities and
Hospital Response to a 10-Kiloton Nuclear Detonation
Craig DeAtley
September 25, 2012
Article Out Loud For many years, federal, state, and local authorities throughout the United States have planned and trained for the notional possibility of a 10-kiloton improvised nuclear device being detonated within a major metropolitan area. If that were to occur, the hundreds of thousands of fatalities and life-threatening injuries
Public Health Response & Severe Weather Emergencies
Audrey Mazurek
September 24, 2012
Public health professionals are constantly building the capacity and capabilities needed to respond to a variety of possible emergencies such as biological events, pandemic influenza, emerging diseases, manmade disasters, and a host of other dangers.
Hospitals Must Prepare Now for Future Contingencies
Theodore Tully
September 19, 2012
Considering the financial constraints already in place, and the likelihood that there will be continuing reductions in federal grant funds for preparedness, the challenge facing U.S. hospitals and other healthcare facilities to do more with less has perhaps never been greater. More specifically, in preparedness planning and operations, very few
New Security Officer Training Opportunity
Domestic Preparedness
September 19, 2012
Emergency Film Group has released Professional Security Officer: Roles & Responsibilities, a DVD-based training program for security guards. The training describes how security professionals support a safe workplace and a secure facility, while remaining professional, open and friendly.
CBRNE & NIMS: Complementary, Not Contradictory
Stephen Grainer
September 19, 2012
Some critics of the U.S. National Incident Management System (NIMS) have cited a wide variety of examples to justify their claims that the NIMS policy guidelines will not fully and/or effectively serve the nation’s needs in managing future emergency-response situations.
Securing Weapons of Mass Destruction: A Continuing Challenge
Richard Schoeberl
September 19, 2012
As events of the past week have shown, the 18-month upheaval that has devastated Syria continues to present a major risk that the Syrian government’s caches of CBRNE (chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive) materials might fall into the hands of looters, defectors, opposition groups, and/or terrorist organizations. Moreover,
The Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drills
Domestic Preparedness
September 13, 2012
Great ShakeOut earthquake drills help people in homes, schools, and organizations practice how to be safe during big earthquakes, and provide an opportunity for everyone to improve their overall preparedness.
Protecting Responders From the Known and Unknown
John Lazier
September 12, 2012
Law enforcement officers secure the scene, hazmat teams enter the hot zone, emergency medical technicians transport victims, and emergency room doctors and nurses receive patients following a radiological incident. Each responder plays an important role, but each requires a different level of protection, which is dictated by different standards. Resources
Follow Us
Get Instant Access
Subscribe today to Domestic Preparedness and get real-world insights for safer communities.
