At an official signing ceremony at the Chengdu City Hall in China, the Municipality of Chengdu and VSTEP (developers of RescueSim) signed a Letter of Intent to build an extensive emergency response training system using the RescueSim virtual training platform. RescueSim helps emergency response teams prepare for any incident imaginable by letting them train in a realistic virtual environment, without the dangers, costs, and time associated with traditional practical training.
Dr. Nicole Lurie, the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), issues an important statement on the significant progress made over the past decade to prepare and respond to biological and other emergency events.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced the award of $2 million to support two regional Centers of Excellence in Regulatory Science and Innovation (CERSI). The centers, which will be located at the University of Maryland and Georgetown University, will focus on strengthening the sciences and training needed to modernize and improve the ways drugs and medical devices are reviewed and evaluated - a major focus within the FDA.
Meridian Medical Technologies Inc., a Pfizer company, has announced the U.S. launch of a new single-vial dose of CYANOKIT® (hydroxocobalamin for injection), which replaces the previous kit containing two 2.5-g vials.
The Memex Solutions Team, a leading provider of intelligence management, data integration, and search and analysis solutions, has announced that the State of Nebraska's law enforcement fusion center, the Nebraska Information Analysis Center (NIAC), has unveiled a public-facing Web site for the collection of Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) from the general public. The automated Web site delivers these time-sensitive tips, and leads, to the Memex software platform to help law enforcement analysts prioritize, evaluate, review, and respond to SARs more effectively to help prevent future crimes.
Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU), working in collaboration with the New York Times (NYT) Knowledge Network, to offer this six course certificate program which provides valuable lessons for those entering health & human services occupations.
"Treat your employees right and they will treat the customers right." That is both the motto and the official policy of the Sacramento, California, Police Department (P.D.). And, thanks to some helpful advice from Target and other area businesses, the results show it - a surprising drop in the local crime rate, for example, despite recent budget cutbacks.
To plan for and defeat the frequently changing threats posed by pandemics (both natural and terrorist-related) requires advance planning, comprehensive training, and stockpiling mountains of supplies, including medications needed to protect literally millions of citizens. But these efforts involve numerous complexities.
A distinguished DomPrep40 Advisor presents his exclusive insider's report on a "Summit Meeting" held in California earlier this month during which the nation's current Hospital Incident Command System (HICS) guidelines were discussed, debated, and dissected in minute detail. New policies that will develop as a result may well affect the health and well-being of all Americans for many years to come.
To better plan for future disasters, researchers at the Purdue School of Civil Engineering are developing detailed models to predict how local populations behave during hurricane evacuations. "The models will be used by public policymakers to improve how evacuations are carried out," said Satish Ukkusuri, an associate professor of civil engineering at Purdue.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has announced the establishment of two industry-specific centers: the Center of Excellence and Expertise - Electronics, in Los Angeles; and the Center of Excellence and Expertise - Pharmaceuticals, in New York City. The centers will continue efforts to increase the uniformity of practices in and throughout U.S. ports of entry, facilitate the timely resolution of trade compliance issues nationwide, and further strengthen critical agency knowledge of key industry practices.
RAM Mounts and the GammaTech Computer Corporation have announced that they have teamed up to provide vehicle mounts that will securely hold a variety of Durabook units in patrol cars and other police vehicles. RAM's Tough-Tray universal laptop tray perfectly adapts to GammaTech Durabook's rugged convertible U12C models, rugged S15C and D14RM, and fully rugged convertible R13S.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released its initial "FluView" report for the U.S. 2011-2012 flu season, and includes a message that, because flu activity is currently low, now would be "the perfect time to get vaccinated." Fortunately, there should be large quantities of vaccine available, because the supply is projected to set a U.S. record.
IdentyTech's new IDT Wallmount terminal, a full identification center based on a secured solution, features Lumidigm's multispectral imaging fingerprint sensors. The Wallmount terminal operates as either a stand-alone solution or as part of an enterprise network for both logical and physical access control.
Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU), working in collaboration with the New York Times (NYT) Knowledge Network, is offering a six-course certificate program in which students will closely analyze both terrorist-related and natural disasters. Students will examine the roots of terrorism and successful countermeasures, as well as the impact and implications of man-made and natural disasters.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano has announced the appointment of Mark Weatherford as the new Deputy Under Secretary for Cybersecurity for the National Protection and Programs Directorate (NPPD). The newly created position will allow DHS, she said, "to better carry out our mission to create a safe, secure, and resilient cyberspace."
The LiveProcess Corporation's flagship emergency management solution is now the first in the U.S. healthcare industry to offer a complete, response-ready contact database to its clients - hospitals across the United States for which mobilizing "the right people to the right place at the right time" can often mean the difference between life and death.
Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU), working in collaboration with the New York Times (NYT) Knowledge Network, is offering this six-course certificate that is intended for current and potential first responders in law enforcement, the military, fire and rescue services, and other occupations that deal with terrorism and/or counterterrorism measures.
The versatile Center for Domestic Preparedness, already a true national asset, continues to expand its curriculum - and its value to healthcare professionals throughout the country. The center's Hospital Emergency Response Training course, the latest example, provides "incredible" hands-on training that will be particularly valuable in dealing with the decontamination phases of mass-casualty incidents.
Lee caused less damage and fewer fatalities, but vigorously reinforced the lethal lessons learned from Irene less than two months ago - namely, that: (a) There is absolutely no substitute for advance planning; (b) Planning must be as totally comprehensive, in every way, as is humanly possible; and (c) That saving of human lives must be at the very top of the priority list.
The Homeland Security Management Institute (HSMI) of Monroe Community College, NY, is offering a two-hour free training course entitled "Citizen Preparedness Program." The course is designed to train citizens on how to protect themselves & their families before, during, and after a disaster occurs.
Blauer Manufacturing Company and Avon Protection Systems announce the world's first NFPA 1994 Class 3 certification of Avon's industry-leading FM53 respirator system with Blauer's revolutionary XRT CBRN protective ensemble. This newly certified ensemble offers unique advantages over other CBRN PPE systems.
Over the last decade, the United States has responded to deliberate biological attacks - e.g., the mailing of anthrax-laden letters, as well as naturally occurring disease outbreaks including SARS and the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic. The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) has issued the BARDA Strategic Plan for 2011-2016, which articulates the guiding principles, goals, and strategies it will implement to enhance the capability of the U.S. government to develop medical countermeasures (MCMs) to these and other natural as well as intentional threats to the nation's health.
"Our new HD Series video surveillance solutions are another example of Samsung's ability to provide high performance products with extreme value on any platform," said Frank De Fina, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing, North America, Samsung Techwin America. "Samsung's new HD Series allows users with legacy analog infrastructure to build on their investment while dramatically improving system performance."
Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU), working in collaboration with the New York Times (NYT) Knowledge Network, is offering courses that will examine how to counter hackers and cybervillains, how to analyze and conduct forensic investigations, and how to optimize computer and network security.
GORE® PYRAD Flame Retardant is a durably bonded laminate solution that allows manufacturers to integrate Flame Retardant (FR) performance into protective outerwear in which traditional (non-FR) textiles, such as nylon and polyester, are used.
Police.TogetherWeServed.com (PTWS), is a secure space for currently serving and veteran officers to connect with their service brothers and sisters, share in the camaraderie of fellow officers, network for professional and social purposes, and create a permanent legacy of service for their families and future generations.
The idea for this report card project began late last year, when the Bipartisan WMD Terrorism Research Center asked the question, "If the nation is unprepared for a biological attack, what more can we do?" This report card provides a strategic end-to-end assessment of America's bio-response capabilities.
Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU) in collaboration with The New York Times (NYT) Knowledge Network is offering an online course designed for those looking to lead organizations in the global economy of the 21st century.
Salamander Technologies Inc. has announced a strategic investment, from TruSec ID Inc., that will help position Salamander as the national standard and a global player for Resource Accountability solutions in the public and industrial safety markets. The companies will explore further consolidation and global growth opportunities in the near future.
by Kay Goss, Albert Romano, Glen Rudner & Douglas Kinney -
Experts agree that an "All of Nation" approach is the key component for effective resiliency planning. Resiliency starts from the bottom, where the needs are recognized and defined, and supported all the way to the top, where partnerships and collaboration make it all possible. This report provides valuable information for responders, receivers, planners, and managers in the public and private sectors who strive to build more resilient communities across the nation.
When a mass-casualty CBRN incident occurs, U.S. hospitals can effectively respond only by having on hand, in advance, ample supplies of medicines, PPE gear, and a broad spectrum of other material systems and resources. But the nurses, doctors, EMS technicians, and other responders must also be prepared - in advance. The lessons learned from previous incidents suggest that that may not always be possible.
The latest Steven Soderbergh film tells a compelling story about a pandemic that spreads disease and fear around the world. The 2003 SARS epidemic demonstrates that the potential danger of such an outbreak is real, but how real is the public health response? When Hollywood takes on an actual public health concern, it is important to separate viable information from pure entertainment. After all, "nothing spreads like fear."
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has announced that 29 airports are ready to receive recently purchased millimeter wave Advanced Imaging Technology (AIT) machines. The machines are equipped with new automated target recognition software designed to enhance privacy by eliminating passenger-specific images while also improving throughput capabilities and streamlining the checkpoint screening process.
Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU) in collaboration with The New York Times (NYT) Knowledge Network is offering this six (6) course certificate program which will provide supervisors, managers, and those aspiring to such positions with the information and skills needed to succeed in a rapidly changing business environment.
The Cooper River Kevlar plant uses state-of-the-art technology that will allow DuPont to meet increased customer demand for advanced protective materials in emerging industries around the world by expanding its portfolio of science-based innovations and boosting productivity.
Food and Drug Administrator (FDA) Margaret A. Hamburg, M.D., has released a blueprint spelling out the immediate steps that can be taken to drive biomedical innovation while also improving the health of Americans. Dr. Hamburg recognized the need to create an FDA-wide framework to address the changing scientific landscape. This blueprint launches the Innovation Initiative, identifying additional steps the agency can take immediately to address the most pressing concerns facing patients and industry.
Princeton Gamma-Tech (PGT) Instruments Inc. has introduced the next generation of mechanically cooled cryogen-free radiation detectors, called the Quiet-One. The Quiet-One is a proprietary PGT design, incorporated into the company's stirling cryocoolers - which replace liquid nitrogen as the coolant for nuclear and x-ray detectors and not only provide a smaller footprint but also lower power consumption while offering low maintenance and along running life.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano's remarks on the need for smart and effective enforcement of U.S. immigration laws in a manner that best promotes public safety, border security, and the integrity of the immigration system.
"The addition of the ESS Division of Dataline adds world-class, mission-critical, and field engineering to Salient's capabilities for protecting our troops and installations all over the globe," said Brad Antle, president and CEO of Salient. "This expands our ability to help customers meet their security requirements and to protect both hard and soft targets anywhere in the world. We focus on missions that matter most to our customers."
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has announced that, to further enhance travel safety, it will purchase and pilot new technologies designed to improve TSA's ability to identify altered or fraudulent passenger identification credentials and boarding passes. TSA plans to test the technology at select airports in early 2012.
The National Preparedness Goal sets the vision for preparedness nationwide and identifies the core capabilities and capability targets necessary to achieve that vision across the five mission areas: prevention, protection, mitigation, response, and recovery. The first edition of the Goal builds extensively on the prior work completed by various stakeholder groups from around the nation.
Silent, odor-free, invisible, and deadly: The radiation left by a dirty bomb, hazmat spill, or laboratory accident is usually difficult to detect and represents a "double danger" not only to those already on the scene of a potential mass-casualty incident but also to the EMTs and first responders seeking to save others - often at the risk of their own lives.
The "first child" could not be saved, which meant that considerable time had already been wasted. But real life is a grim teacher - which is exactly why the Center for Domestic Preparedness makes its chilling incident scenarios as lifelike and realistic as possible. The end result: Invaluable training for thousands of responders from all areas of the country - at no cost to their own communities.
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., the world leader in serving science, has announced the latest software update for the AhuraFD, the award-winning handheld Raman instrument for field-based chemical identification, formerly sold as Ahura Scientific FirstDefender. Deployed globally by hazmat teams, law enforcement, bomb squads, and military units, AhuraFD enables first responders to quickly identify unknown chemicals, even through sealed containers.
Emergent BioSolutions Inc. has announced that the company has received an award to supply the U.S. government with 44.75 million doses of BioThrax (Anthrax Vaccine Adsorbed) over a period of five years. BioThrax is the only vaccine licensed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to protect citizens against anthrax infection.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has signed agreements with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) to: (a) advance information-sharing between federal agencies; and (b) improve the targeting of imports for health and safety violations. EPA and PHSMA are now part of CBP's Import Safety Commercial Targeting and Analysis Center (CTAC), a multi-agency center for targeting commercial shipments that pose potential threats to health and safety.
This report is the culmination of numerous efforts that started with rural farmers and ranchers calling for a more secure border. The report offers a military perspective on how to best incorporate strategic, operational, and tactical measures to secure the increasingly hostile U.S./Mexican border along the Rio Grande River.
The U.S. Army Office of the Surgeon General has received Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance of two Influenza test kits for use on the Joint Biological Agent Identification and Diagnostic System (JBAIDS). Idaho Technology Inc., developer and manufacturer of the JBAIDS instrument, performed the optimization and analytical testing of the influenza assays, designed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, for work on the JBAIDS.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has just released its newly updated and organized Private Sector Resource Catalog, which will help private sector partners carry out their essential roles in the Homeland Security Enterprise. Future updates, issued on a regular basis, will help ensure that the private sector has all the resources needed to carry out its own responsibilities in protecting the nation.
The development of five new drugs to treat injuries associated with acute radiation syndrome (caused by exposure to high doses of damaging - i.e., ionizing - radiation) will move forward under contracts awarded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA).
