by Craig Vanderwagen, Former HHS (Department of Health & Human Services) Assistant Secretary for Preparedness & Response; Summarized by John F. Morton -
The DP40 and DomPrep readers assess their opinions on whether or not the United States hospitals are prepared to deal with the aftermath of a mass-casualty incident.
The Obama Administration is releasing an updated National Security Strategy that lays out a strategic approach for advancing American interests, including the security of the American people, a growing U.S. economy, support for American values, and an international order that can address 21st century challenges.
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 M.U.S.T. (Mobile Utility Surveillance Tower) uses a vehicle-based platform to deploy an elevated tower and climate-controlled capsule to an eye level height of over 25 feet. The vehicle can be fully deployed by one person at any location in less than two minutes without that person exiting the vehicle, which is equipped with a 4-point fully automatic self-leveling hydraulic stabilization system.
Eastern Kentucky University is leading the way with this rewarding online program, one of the nation's top undergraduate programs in Fire and Safety Engineering Technology. The on-campus program has been offered at EKU since 1975. Its online format gives today's working professionals the flexibility needed to pursue their degrees without much impact on their already busy lifestyles.
"We never know where the next hurricane or disaster will strike, but we know that the more we do to prepare now, the better the outcome will be," said FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) Administrator Craig Fugate. "FEMA will continue to work with our private-sector, local, state, tribal, and federal partners to ensure that we are prepared, but it is also important that all Americans take the necessary steps now - like developing a family disaster plan - before a hurricane or disaster strikes."
Every year beginning this fall through 2014, three Anne Arundel Community College students enrolled in the Registered Nursing program will receive $3,000 scholarships to help offset their educational costs, thanks to a generous new scholarship program set up by Johns Hopkins HealthCare (JHHC).
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has awarded its Information Technology Infrastructure Program (ITIP) contract to CSC (Computer Sciences Corporation) for the deployment, maintenance, and enhancement of TSA's IT infrastructure capabilities. The ITIP contract augments TSA's ability to protect its information technology network from cyber threats & ensures TSA has the IT infrastructure needed to support computing and communications hardware, software, and related services.
C2WSPTT is an on-demand, single-server, resident modeling and simulation (M&S) capability that simulates an Air and Space Operations Center (AOC) environment. The 505th CS developed C2WSPTT, under the 505th Command and Control Wing, with support from Ternion Corporation to provide a low-cost, high-fidelity M&S capability with a small footprint to allow AOC units to conduct in-garrison training without the need for outside agency support.
"The Visa Waiver Program facilitates secure and hassle-free travel for citizens of participating countries - making international travel safer and easier," said Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano. "This step to eliminate the paper I-94W leverages the latest technology to further bolster security, increase convenience for visitors, and better protect privacy."
"Many organizations are very concerned about the aesthetics of their landscaping and asked us to provide other looks beyond slats and bars," said David Dickinson, Delta Scientific senior vice president. "Now, safety engineers can meet their security and aesthetic requirements with gates that have been tested in the field and trials for more than 25 years. In addition to 14 different decors, Delta gates are available with a variety of options to suit each installation."
Protection of the nation's "critical infrastructure" has long been one of the highest priorities of senior officials at all levels of government. After 9/11, response and recovery started to receive equal billing. Now comes belated recognition that "resilience" also is needed - and should be built into construction projects at every step of the way from dream to reality.
The 21st-century world of high-tech communications - ranging from the transmission of classified information to social texting and junk mail - has not yet, partly because of privacy concerns, significantly improved the forwarding of medical records. What can and should be done about this?
The Rapiscan Secure 1000, which can detect small, non-metallic concealed threats very quickly and with excellent image resolution, offers customers the best available combination of security and operational efficiency. This capability translates into improved threat detection, fewer false alarms, and a reduced need for physical "patdown" searches.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano has announced the deployment of advanced imaging technology (AIT) units, purchased with American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds, to 28 additional airports - strengthening security at airports throughout the country while boosting local economies.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has announced release of the first in a series of podcasts designed to answer travelers' frequently asked questions in a brief and understandable forum. The first "Travelcast" describes the approved travel documents that U.S. citizens and other lawful permanent residents must provide when they return from international destinations.
The battery-powered SmartBio Sensor is portable and ruggedized, enabling it to be used to proactively protect public venues in various applications, including perimeter monitoring for both indoor and outdoor events, as well as in a range of military environments.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano has announced details of the fiscal year 2010 Preparedness Grants for nine federal programs - including critical infrastructure-related grants - totaling nearly $790 million to assist state, local & tribal governments, and the private sector, in strengthening preparedness against acts of terrorism, major natural disasters, and other emergencies.
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.
With mass-casualty incidents becoming one of the 21st-century's consistent growth industries, it is only natural that the nation's health care facilities are busy preparing for a sudden and totally unexpected increase in patient workloads. Here are a few basic principles and precepts to keep in mind - just in case.
by Craig Vanderwagen, Former HHS (Department of Health & Human Services) Assistant Secretary for Preparedness & Response; Summarized by John F. Morton -
Are U.S. hospitals currently prepared to deal with the aftermath of a nuclear explosion - or any other mass-casualty incident? Not yet, according to the DP40 panel of experts. Reader opinions are hereby requested.
"This year marks the first decade of our partnership with NW3C addressing nearly 1.5 million Internet crime complaints to IC3 (Internet Crime Complaint Center)," said Bill Hinerman, FBI Unit Chief for IC3. "This partnership has increased law enforcement's ability to collect, analyze, and refer Internet crime complaints to our domestic and international law enforcement partners."
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) have announced an online hub for collaborative information-sharing through Facebook for the response and recovery to severe weather and flooding in Tennessee. The webpage hosts an online community where those affected by the disaster and those active in the response can share information.
Brian Kohr, General Manager of CSafe, commented that, "We are pleased to have United Cargo as a CSafe airline partner. We are confident that the superior performing AcuTemp RKN air cargo container will be a great addition to their Temp Control service offerings."
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has ordered approximately 200 ProVision advanced imaging technology systems for the screening of passengers at U.S. airport checkpoints. These systems provide TSA with an additional technology to support TSA's layered security approach.
Traditional surveillance cameras can be of significant assistance to law enforcement officers for a range of scenarios. But a new video surveillance system currently being developed by the Department of Homeland Security's Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) may soon give law enforcement an extra set of eyes. The Imaging System for Immersive Surveillance (ISIS) takes new video-camera and image-stitching technology and bolts it to a ceiling, mounts it on a roof, or fastens it to a truck-mounted telescoping mast.
"Using Infinova's popular IP and megapixel cameras in tandem with NiceVision, users can focus on fast and informed decision-making, instead of monotonous detection tasks, enabling the timely management of suspicious events before they become serious incidents," said Mark S. Wilson, Infinova vice president, marketing.
Scott Health & Safety is proud to announce the launch of its SureSeal System, which utilizes a U-shape seal that maintains a continuous circumferential seal around the user's face. This patent-pending Scott technology, called reverse reflex, allows the SureSeal system to flex with every movement of the facepiece, resulting in a higher fit factor and a more comfortable seal for the user.
At a time in U.S. history when mass-casualty events are not only more frequent but also much better publicized, the numerous public and private-sector agencies involved are, correctly, focusing greater attention on their own preparedness to cope with such "when, not if" situations. Hospitals, for example, many of which are perennially overcrowded, are desperately looking for more space to handle double or triple their normal patient capacity.
The GAO (Government Accountability Office) released the report, which addresses: (1) the extent to which NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) developed effective strategic plans for its tsunami programs; and (2) the status of NOAA's efforts to strengthen and expand the programs and move tsunami research to application.
U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano and Australian Attorney-General Robert McClelland have signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to strengthen emergency management cooperation in response to major storms and other disasters of all kinds.
The GAO (Government Accountability Office) has released a report on the extent the Department of Defense has: (a) identified & addressed capability gaps for its civil support mission; (b) defined its roles, responsibilities, and relationships - and identified appropriate levels and types of personnel to assign to the FEMA regions; and (c) shares and tracks information concerning its civil support requirements response process with civil authorities.
The Arizona Department of Health Services (DHS) has selected irms|EM Emergency Management & irms|WM Warehouse Management to manage the state's Public Health emergency management resources. This software solution provides a robust, easy-to-use system for statewide, regional, and county-level management of pandemic response resources including vaccines, prophylaxis, treatment, medical supplies, and personal protective equipment (PPE).
"Smartphones are becoming more prevalent, affordable, [and] reliable - and more viable to locate and obtain information and assistance," said FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) Administrator Craig Fugate. "This service will provide yet another avenue for the sharing of important information that is so critical to ensuring the public is prepared for emergencies."
More than 700 personnel from federal, state, and local agencies and the private sector are participating in a five-day homeland security exercise in Philadelphia. The exercise, called Liberty RadEx, is the largest drill of its kind sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to test the country's capability to clean up and help communities recover from a dirty bomb terrorist attack.
