More and better clot busters, instant timelines, smarter (maybe even genius level) cellular technology, and open-source software. All are part of the still ongoing revolution in medical monitoring devices that started with the EKG and defibrillator and has already saved untold thousands of lives in almost every country in the world.
From the Last Days of Pompeii to the present, great nations and individual citizens have been striving to cope with random acts of nature. In one sense, this striving represents an almost hopeless quest for perfection. But in a larger sense the lessons learned, and the lives saved, not only make the effort worthwhile for today's world but also serve as a beacon of hope for the future.
In most nations of the "enlightened" modern world the need for EMS units has become both more apparent and more ubiquitous. There still are a number of nations, though, that must rely on such charitable organizations as the Order of Saint John to provide medical help in times of sudden emergency. This is their story.
Mistakes, misunderstandings, and miscalculations are extremely embarrassing. But they also are extremely helpful - IF they are made in practice rather than in actual operations. Which is why professional football and baseball teams work so hard in pre-season practice, and first responders focus so much emphasis on "just in case" training drills and exercises.
The rapid growth of mass-casualty incidents in recent years has led to much-needed new rules - now formulated at the federal level - to not only notify victims' families and friends, and usually the media as well. Implementing those rules requires organizational skills, advance planning, compassion, and an uncommon measure of common sense.
The best-laid plans of mice and men - not to mention emergency managers and healthcare officials - can oft go awry. That is particularly true, almost guaranteed in fact, when the plans are only on paper, the emergency assets needed have not been secured, and the numerous other actions needed to maintain continuity of operations have never been tested.
Some of the best "solutions" create other problems, as Canada found out during the 2003 SARS outbreak. Once again, the best way to avoid such secondary problems is through advance planning, plus training and exercises, with all stakeholders involved every step of the way.
Dealing with earthquakes, hurricanes, and/or terrorist attacks is difficult enough for first responders as well as emergency managers. Add to that, though, the need to protect, provide medical care for, and/or possibly transport people suffering from various medical problems makes the challenge exponentially more difficult. Once again, advance planning and attention to detail are the keys to success.
The emergency rooms of most U.S. hospitals are often overcrowded even on a supposedly "slow" day. A mass-casualty incident makes the situation exponentially worse, creating a simultaneous demand for additional space, a larger staff, and more medical supplies. The last resort is usually the use of an alternate-care site - which is not always available.
The 2009 inauguration of President Barack Obama was a truly historic event in many ways - and for many reasons, not least of which is that it provided a "golden standard" opportunity for the State of Maryland and its National Capital Region partners to use, validate, and learn from a real-world test of their ESF #6 (Mass Care & Sheltering) capabilities.
