Author Archive

Ebola – Protecting Frontline Workers

The first U.S. case of Ebola has been confirmed in Texas, so what once was considered a “foreign” disease is now on domestic soil. The key question is, “Are U.S. healthcare workers prepared?” Although it takes time, it is never too late to build awareness, provide protection, and implement procedures.

Applying the Kipling Method to Infrastructure Protection

In 1900, writer Rudyard Kipling created a story about “The Elephant’s Child” that would not stop asking questions. More than 100 years later, planners must ask similarly tough questions in order to protect critical infrastructure assets that could have devastating ripple effects should they cease functioning.

Mass Fatalities – Processing Human Remains

The unfortunate truth is – no matter how well prepared a jurisdiction is, no matter how well equipped and staffed, and no matter how good emergency plans are – bad things happen. Unlike most planning efforts, the goal of mass fatality planning is not to save lives, but rather to

Special Facilities – More Than Just Shelters

Many emergency plans call for the establishment of special facilities – each serving a primary function(s) to protect the population – in order to fulfill the public’s needs during or after a disaster. Following a terrorist attack involving a bioweapon such as smallpox, for example, mass inoculations would require establishing

Operational Tasks – Go With the Flow

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,

Death – Breaking the Bad News

The American Heart Association reported that, in 2011, the average survival rate to hospital discharge for nontraumatic cardiac arrest patients of all ages after receiving treatment from emergency medical services (EMS) was 10.4 percent. As such, EMS teams play a key role in preparing the families of cardiac arrest patients
Box of Narcan nasal spray

Opioids – Overdoses & Antidotes

In 2017, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services declared a public health emergency related to the opioid crisis. Indeed, overdoses and deaths from opioids have skyrocketed over the past decade. In 2017, deaths from opioids were six times higher than in 1999. Opioids impact the quality of life

Bridging the Medical Ladders

Paramedics acquire a wealth of skills and knowledge, but their tasks are physically demanding and the risk of injury is high. Rather than discarding their training and starting over, these skilled professionals instead could transition to higher-level, less-strenuous job positions. With a few changes, hospitals and communities can continue to

Productivity & Multiagency Meetings

When multiagency meetings take time away from everyday tasks, productivity may decrease – but only temporarily. Those participating in such meetings should recognize, though, that the productivity lost that day usually will be reimbursed, with interest, when the same participants simultaneously respond to future incidents.

Raising the Capabilities Bar for Future Medical Teams

Predicting the future of emergency medical services (EMS) is often a frustrating task; but it also can be extremely rewarding. For many years, EMS leaders have been predicting a day when paramedics will be able to treat patients on-site – without having to transport them to a hospital or other

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ARTICLE OUT LOUD – Why Messaging Matters: A Regionalized Approach to Alerts and Warnings

Full article by Soraya Sutherlin, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness. Effective, timely, and unified communication across jurisdictions is essential for saving lives. The 2015 ExxonMobil refinery explosion highlighted the urgent need for coordinated, cross-jurisdictional alerting. Emergency managers, public safety officials, and policymakers must come together to prioritize a

ARTICLE OUT LOUD – The Nexus Between Major Events and Human Trafficking

Full article by Madeline Mann and Lindsey Lane, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, November 27, 2024. Most available data do not support the misconception that large-scale events lead to increased human trafficking. Rather, available evidence underscores a harsh truth: Human trafficking is a pervasive problem every day, not

ARTICLE OUT LOUD – A Violent Surge: Sovereign Citizens vs. Government Authority

Full article by Anthony “Tony” Mottola and Richard Schoeberl, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness.The Federal Bureau of Investigation has classified the Sovereign Citizen movement as a domestic terrorist threat. To prepare law enforcement officials and other public safety agencies for the risks associated with this movement, agencies need

ARTICLE OUT LOUD – Advisory Board Spotlight: Interview with Ray Barishansky

Interview with Ray Barishansky, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness.Ray Barishansky, DrPH, is on the advisory board for the Domestic Preparedness Journal and has a passion for public health and emergency management. He sat down with the Journal’s Nicolette Casey to share his story. Learn about Dr. Barishansky’s journey

ARTICLE OUT LOUD – The Ethics of Data in Disaster Management and Crisis Operations

Full article by Anthony Mangeri, an Article Out Loud from Domestic PreparednessAs the demand for evidence-based decision-making continues to grow, emergency management professionals must commit to ethical data practices that respect the needs of the community and the rights of individuals. In times of crisis, data can save lives, but

Article Out Loud – Backyard Cybersecurity: The Local Challenge

Full article by Brian Shajari, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness.In this featured article, a cybersecurity expert shares the importance of cybersecurity to local government functions. Although higher levels of government and businesses may possess the tools necessary to protect against cyberattacks, local governments often do not.Learn where local

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