PUBLIC HEALTH ARCHIVES
The Emerging Nuclear Threat Environment
Vayl S. Oxford
April 16, 2014
The changing conditions in the Middle East and North Africa, the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan and Iraq, and the impact of Iran’s nuclear program each have serious national security implications. To mitigate the emerging nuclear threat, agencies at all levels of government should perform five critical actions.
The ‘Dirty’ Details About Explosive Devices
Courtney Gavitt
April 16, 2014
The 2013 Boston Marathon bombings caused confusion, frustration, and anger when race marshals abruptly ended the event. The consequences, though, could have been much greater had the initial reports been true. Knowing what makes a dirty bomb “dirty” is the first step to ensure the health and safety of all
The ‘Day After Disaster,’ Revisited
Craig DeAtley
April 8, 2014
In the first 72 hours following a nuclear blast, survivors would face many challenges – communication, evacuation, sheltering, response, and incident command. Scenario 1 (Nuclear Detonation – Improvised Nuclear Device) of the National Response Framework was depicted in the History Channel’s “Day After Disaster” in 2009. Five years later, is
Nuclear Weapons – A Growing Security Threat
Richard Schoeberl
April 2, 2014
Although there has not been another significant attack on U.S. soil since 9/11, the threat of terrorists acquiring materials to create weapons of mass destruction still exists. Leaders of countries around the world recently met to discuss the current nuclear and radiological threats and to develop preventive measures to secure
Death – Breaking the Bad News
Joseph Cahill
April 2, 2014
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
California – A Growing Response to Persistent Drought
Mark Ghilarducci
March 26, 2014
The average person in the United States uses between 80 and 100 gallons of water per day. California’s multiyear drought has broken new records, created unprecedented reductions in water supply, and demands personal conservation techniques. The Governor’s Office of Emergency Services has been leading the charge toward mitigating this widespread
Preparing for Extreme Weather Events
Kay C. Goss
March 19, 2014
The United States has received significant attention for its extreme weather events in 2014, with the worst drought in recorded history in California and significant moist snow, sleet, and ice in the eastern and southern states. The year 2013 had its share of extreme weather, as well, including:Winter Storm Nemo’s multiple
Preparedness & Progress for Emerging Pathogenic Threats
Robert C. Hutchinson
March 12, 2014
Equipment, plans, and personnel are only as good as their ability to perform when needed. When disaster strikes, it is imperative that local, state, and federal levels of government, emergency management, volunteer organizations, and healthcare coalitions are all operationally ready and trained to use all of the “stuff” they have
Opioids – Overdoses & Antidotes
Joseph Cahill
March 5, 2014
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
Exercise Extent-of-Play Agreements
George Yantosik and Ken Lerner
February 26, 2014
Large-scale disasters require response efforts from multiple organizations that must plan and exercise well in advance. For a successful joint exercise, there must be points of agreement, including: scope of exercise, degree of participation by each organization, coordination of exercise activities, and evaluation process for lessons learned from the exercise.
Preparing the Next Generation for War on the Virtual Battlefront
Rodrigo (Roddy) Moscoso
February 25, 2014
A “cyber Pearl Harbor” is imminent, according to government and industry experts. Recognizing the threat and implementing programs and training to better guard against such threats is critical to protect the various U.S. infrastructure systems and networks.
Cyber Grand Strategies: Technology vs. Human Interaction
Bonnie Butlin
February 19, 2014
One lesson learned from the National Security Agency leaks in 2013 is that disrupting terrorist activities in cyberspace requires more than just the latest technology. Human interaction plays a critical role in thwarting criminal activity while protecting personal information and privacy. Canada offers one example of leveraging human networks and
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