2010 Predictions...How well did I do? Well, lets take a look...
Here is the list of my 2010 Mitigation Journal predictions. I've listed my self-assessment of accuracy in these predictions. You can feel free to agree or not. Either way, I'd love to hear from you.
2010 Prediction: Budget Declines in municipal public services agencies: shortfalls in tax revenue and increased pressure to justify/cut personnel, facilities, and equipment. Public tax based services will be forced to refocus their mission.
Accuracy: 70%. The topic of public service budgets continues to circulate with various intensity and emotion. Much discussion and mainstream media attention tuned towards pay and benefits throughout the year. Here in last few months of 2010, more attention has been directed to responses and the number of employees. Budget scrutiny seems to be hit or miss.
2010 Prediction: Reduction in health care reimbursement, scrutiny of public service budget (fire and EMS) and justification of services - evidence based fee for services (I might predict a decline in fire service EMS...don't know if I want to mention that at this time)
Accuracy: 50%. Not as much of an issue as I would have thought this year. But as noted above, this issue is not going away.
2010 Prediction: EMS role in community health:
EMS responders will take more work doing community-based health - for homeless and home confined populations. EMS will also have an increased interaction with at-risk or special needs populations.
Accuracy: 0% Totally ignored. Nothing happened with this at all...but, I wish it would! Should we keep this on the list for 2011?
2010 Prediction: An increased number of walk-in care centers, urgent care centers, and retail health care clinics will impact health care delivery in general and EMS. Taking patients to them and picking people up from them.
Accuracy: 80% I think I hit this one pretty close. Events and requests for service at walk in centers has increased as have the number of these centers. Both factors point to the fact that people are willing to forgo a trip to the family doc in favor of a walk-in/urgent care center.
December 30, 2010
December 28, 2010
Hospitals...Public Health or Public Safety?
Hospitals...Public Health or Public Safety?
For years EMS personnel have found themselves torn between being part of public health or public safety. This identity tug-of-war has led to a certain lack of identity on the part of emergency medical services. The same problem is now being faced by hospitals and health care organizations.
Are hospitals part of public safety or public health? The answer is, both...based on public expectation. As much as traditional response groups train and prepare for disasters, they do so as part of their mission. The interesting fact is that hospitals are expected to manage the day-to-day events as well as the large scale event. The public expectation is that hospitals will be able to manage any crisis or disaster situation.
For years EMS personnel have found themselves torn between being part of public health or public safety. This identity tug-of-war has led to a certain lack of identity on the part of emergency medical services. The same problem is now being faced by hospitals and health care organizations.
Are hospitals part of public safety or public health? The answer is, both...based on public expectation. As much as traditional response groups train and prepare for disasters, they do so as part of their mission. The interesting fact is that hospitals are expected to manage the day-to-day events as well as the large scale event. The public expectation is that hospitals will be able to manage any crisis or disaster situation.
December 27, 2010
MJ Podcast 202: CO again, See Something at Wal-Mart, Patriot App
MJ Podcast 202: CO again, See Something at Wal-Mart, and the Patriot App
Today we'll celebrate the end of 2010 by looking back at my 2010 predictions and ask..."how well did I do"? First off in this weeks podcast; a review of the predictions. I'll be posting my self assessment later this week. In the meantime, I invite you to listen to my list of 2010 prediticions and let me know what you think...drop me a line on the voice mail line 585-672-7844 or email me mitigationjournal@gmail.com. We'll be posting the 2011 predictions early in the new year.
It's not all good news this week...we have hate mail to discuss. That's it, hate mail. In response to a Facebook posting; promoting Insights in Nursing, a podcast by the producer of the Medic Cast, an EMS podcast, I've been accused of "selling out' to the nursing profession. You'll have to listen to the podcast for all the details, but in short, Mitigation Journal is designed to bridge the gaps between responders...traditional and non-traditional. Fire, EMS, Public Health, and yes, nursing. Its about all hazards preparedness and getting that cross discipline information to a point where we appreciate the common ground we have and be better prepared. Tune in for all the details.
Our topics this week: Key point of CO events, See Something/Say Something at Wal-Mart, and the Patriot Act App. We'll also have a visit from Lori VanScoter of Instinctively Healthy giving us some tips on remaining healthy while working this holiday season.
Get the podcast at iTunes or click on the Podcast Player in right side-bar.
Donate Today! Support mitigation journal by making a donation of $1.00. Click the "donate" button on the right sidebar. Mitigation Journal is a listener supported independent podcast and blog… and any little bit will help.
Get Mitigation Journal on your e-mail… subscribe to our free e-mail edition of the blog by typing your e-mail address in the e-mail subscription box.
Subscribe to the podcast...FREE! visit us on iTunes and subscribe to get all the podcast information delivered to you each week.
Get the MJ app and support the blog and podcast! Visit the app store at iTunes and for $1.99 purchase the MJ app...its the best way to get the podcast.
Click for edition 202 |
It's not all good news this week...we have hate mail to discuss. That's it, hate mail. In response to a Facebook posting; promoting Insights in Nursing, a podcast by the producer of the Medic Cast, an EMS podcast, I've been accused of "selling out' to the nursing profession. You'll have to listen to the podcast for all the details, but in short, Mitigation Journal is designed to bridge the gaps between responders...traditional and non-traditional. Fire, EMS, Public Health, and yes, nursing. Its about all hazards preparedness and getting that cross discipline information to a point where we appreciate the common ground we have and be better prepared. Tune in for all the details.
So Long, 2010 |
Get the podcast at iTunes or click on the Podcast Player in right side-bar.
Donate Today! Support mitigation journal by making a donation of $1.00. Click the "donate" button on the right sidebar. Mitigation Journal is a listener supported independent podcast and blog… and any little bit will help.
Get Mitigation Journal on your e-mail… subscribe to our free e-mail edition of the blog by typing your e-mail address in the e-mail subscription box.
Subscribe to the podcast...FREE! visit us on iTunes and subscribe to get all the podcast information delivered to you each week.
Get the MJ app and support the blog and podcast! Visit the app store at iTunes and for $1.99 purchase the MJ app...its the best way to get the podcast.
December 24, 2010
Responding with Awareness
Responding with Awareness...What's this all about?
What are you thinking about when you respond to an event? Location, construction type, occupancy, road and weather conditions, perhaps. How about awareness?
What's this awareness stuff all about? Its about waking up in a different world. That wake up might be in the middle of an event; such as when you hear the "mayday" being called on what you thought was a simple bread and butter operation. That wake up may come when you least expect it...
Responding with Awareness means waking up before the alarm goes off.
Talking with many responders during a recent delivery of my program Maintaining a Culture of Preparedness, it became clear to me that we haven't done a good job of teaching awareness or preparedness. We have learned to hit the snooze alarm pretty well.
What are you thinking about when you respond to an event? Location, construction type, occupancy, road and weather conditions, perhaps. How about awareness?
What's this awareness stuff all about? Its about waking up in a different world. That wake up might be in the middle of an event; such as when you hear the "mayday" being called on what you thought was a simple bread and butter operation. That wake up may come when you least expect it...
Responding with Awareness means waking up before the alarm goes off.
Talking with many responders during a recent delivery of my program Maintaining a Culture of Preparedness, it became clear to me that we haven't done a good job of teaching awareness or preparedness. We have learned to hit the snooze alarm pretty well.
December 22, 2010
Consumer Level HazMat Situational Awareness
Situational Awareness for Consumer Level HazMat Situations
You've heard me talk about this thing called Situational Awareness plenty of times. But, what's it mean and how do we apply it to Consumer-Level Hazardous Materials situations?
Let's start with a reminder of what Consumer Level HazMat situations are. Simply put, these are conditions created, either intentional or accidental, when chemicals available to the general public via retail purchase are used, combined, or discarded, that create a hazardous chemical environment or immediately dangerous to life and health (IDLH) situation. In other words, Consumer Level HazMat situations are derived out a creative use of everyday materials.
Situational awareness in these events is not only key to successful mitigation, but paramount in accomplishing the our response strategy of life safety, incident stabilization, and property conservation.
We can break Situational Awareness for Consumer Level Hazmat down into three easy to remember points:
One: Avoid Optimism Bias...the belief that "it can't happen to me, us, or here" is key to keeping yourself safe in any situation. We are often lulled into a false sense of security when events involve materials we can buy at any store. Make no mistake, household chemicals and product available at retail centers can and do pack the same potential as toxic industrial chemicals. It is this false belief that causes many civilians and responders to fall victim to these products. Responders have the added scourge of complacency to deal with...that's another story.
Two: Its NOT "terrorism"...and it doesn't have to be! After several years of meaningless terrorism training, the traditional response community of fire and EMS have been led to believe that only intentional events require us to deploy our "terrorism" training. The fact is that many materials that fall into the consumer category can be used for illicit purposes. The fact is that we do not have to wait for an intentional act in order to use the knowledge, skills, and materials learned in "terrorism" training. We can and should be using this information (and finding ways to use it) every day. The result will be better preparedness and response to accidents as well as intentional events.
Three: Think Rule of Outcomes. Rule of Outcomes thinking requires us to think past the cause of the event and understand the common outcomes to a variety of events. We should be thinking the these types of events are going to need some level of decontamination, protective clothing, specialty care and transport, management of multiple patients, working in hostile environments or protracted times, and a coordinated multi-jurisdictional response...just to name a few. Rule of Outcomes thinking also tells us that the every-day calls for service will continue to come in and they'll do so when your resources are taxed.
You've heard me talk about this thing called Situational Awareness plenty of times. But, what's it mean and how do we apply it to Consumer-Level Hazardous Materials situations?
Let's start with a reminder of what Consumer Level HazMat situations are. Simply put, these are conditions created, either intentional or accidental, when chemicals available to the general public via retail purchase are used, combined, or discarded, that create a hazardous chemical environment or immediately dangerous to life and health (IDLH) situation. In other words, Consumer Level HazMat situations are derived out a creative use of everyday materials.
Situational awareness in these events is not only key to successful mitigation, but paramount in accomplishing the our response strategy of life safety, incident stabilization, and property conservation.
We can break Situational Awareness for Consumer Level Hazmat down into three easy to remember points:
One: Avoid Optimism Bias...the belief that "it can't happen to me, us, or here" is key to keeping yourself safe in any situation. We are often lulled into a false sense of security when events involve materials we can buy at any store. Make no mistake, household chemicals and product available at retail centers can and do pack the same potential as toxic industrial chemicals. It is this false belief that causes many civilians and responders to fall victim to these products. Responders have the added scourge of complacency to deal with...that's another story.
Two: Its NOT "terrorism"...and it doesn't have to be! After several years of meaningless terrorism training, the traditional response community of fire and EMS have been led to believe that only intentional events require us to deploy our "terrorism" training. The fact is that many materials that fall into the consumer category can be used for illicit purposes. The fact is that we do not have to wait for an intentional act in order to use the knowledge, skills, and materials learned in "terrorism" training. We can and should be using this information (and finding ways to use it) every day. The result will be better preparedness and response to accidents as well as intentional events.
Three: Think Rule of Outcomes. Rule of Outcomes thinking requires us to think past the cause of the event and understand the common outcomes to a variety of events. We should be thinking the these types of events are going to need some level of decontamination, protective clothing, specialty care and transport, management of multiple patients, working in hostile environments or protracted times, and a coordinated multi-jurisdictional response...just to name a few. Rule of Outcomes thinking also tells us that the every-day calls for service will continue to come in and they'll do so when your resources are taxed.
December 20, 2010
MJ Podcast 201 Maintaining a Culture of Preparedness Live
Click for MJ Podcast 201 |
If you've been waiting for the perfect overview of preparedness, this is it! I've been working on the update Maintaining a Culture of Preparedness for a few months. Current events have driven me to get it done with a new introduction to the all-hazards approach to preparedness. In this all new segment, I'll discuss the Rule of Outcomes, Optimism Bias, natural and man made events, as well as intentional and accidental situations. We'll also discus the important difference between hard targets and soft targets.
You can click the icon in this posting for direct download or click the podcast player in the right side bar.
Donate Today! Support mitigation journal by making a donation of $1.00. Click the "donate" button on the right sidebar. Mitigation Journal is a listener supported independent podcast and blog… and any little bit will help.
Get Mitigation Journal on your e-mail… subscribe to our free e-mail edition of the blog by typing your e-mail address in the e-mail subscription box.
Subscribe to the podcast...FREE! visit us on iTunes and subscribe to get all the podcast information delivered to you each week.
Get the MJ app and support the blog and podcast! Visit the app store at iTunes and for $1.99 purchase the MJ app...its the best way to get the podcast.
December 17, 2010
America the Anxious to America the Prepared
America the Anxious to America the Prepared...
Updated document calls for civilian preparedness.
Someone from DHS must have been in one of my Maintaining a Culture of Preparedness talks.
We talk quite a bit about the differences in today's response culture compared to the response culture of years ago. In brief, we used to have fallout shelters, civil defense shelters...and what I call the "Civil Preparedness Mindset"...Mr. and Mrs. America stocked up of food and materials and perhaps had a shelter of some type in the basement or back yard. While in today our society practices the "Just in Time" approach to preparedness...instead of stock shelf-stable supplies, we'll run to the supermarket daily, rather than take any responsibility for our own safety and readiness we'll assume someone will be there to rescue us. Our society has traded in the preparedness mindset for Optimism Bias...the "it can't happen to me" crowd.
Having been vocal about the need to prepare our civilian populations in much the same fassion as we did during the Cold War era, I am pleased to see this updated version of Planning Guidance to Response to a Nuclear Detonation. This guide updates the January 2009 version and makes a compelling assertion that the civilian population should: a) be informed, b) prepared, and c) shelter in place during a nuclear event. See the video below. A movement from America the Anxious to America the Prepared.
All good points and topics we should continue to preach to the populations we serve. Furthermore, good things to remember for all-hazards preparedness...universal preparedness, if you will, not just nuclear events.
We've discussed various levels of readiness and planning most recently in our post on Survival Basics; taking simple preparations to survive being standed in your car. We've also taken on the large preparedness view; What if it did happen here? We've even been a bit catastrophic while In Search of Preparedness in America.
Get the original guidance document here.
Updated document calls for civilian preparedness.
Someone from DHS must have been in one of my Maintaining a Culture of Preparedness talks.
We talk quite a bit about the differences in today's response culture compared to the response culture of years ago. In brief, we used to have fallout shelters, civil defense shelters...and what I call the "Civil Preparedness Mindset"...Mr. and Mrs. America stocked up of food and materials and perhaps had a shelter of some type in the basement or back yard. While in today our society practices the "Just in Time" approach to preparedness...instead of stock shelf-stable supplies, we'll run to the supermarket daily, rather than take any responsibility for our own safety and readiness we'll assume someone will be there to rescue us. Our society has traded in the preparedness mindset for Optimism Bias...the "it can't happen to me" crowd.
Having been vocal about the need to prepare our civilian populations in much the same fassion as we did during the Cold War era, I am pleased to see this updated version of Planning Guidance to Response to a Nuclear Detonation. This guide updates the January 2009 version and makes a compelling assertion that the civilian population should: a) be informed, b) prepared, and c) shelter in place during a nuclear event. See the video below. A movement from America the Anxious to America the Prepared.
All good points and topics we should continue to preach to the populations we serve. Furthermore, good things to remember for all-hazards preparedness...universal preparedness, if you will, not just nuclear events.
We've discussed various levels of readiness and planning most recently in our post on Survival Basics; taking simple preparations to survive being standed in your car. We've also taken on the large preparedness view; What if it did happen here? We've even been a bit catastrophic while In Search of Preparedness in America.
Get the original guidance document here.
December 15, 2010
Biological Events Series: Smallpox
Smallpox...5 points to remember
#1 Smallpox does not exist outside of a lab. Smallpox is highly contagious virus that no longer exists in nature. Seriously, the World Health Organization along with Dr. D.A. Henderson, wiped the Smallpox virus off the face of the earth back in the 1970's. Yet, people often tell me that the virus is alive and well in "third world" countries.
#2 Smallpox, even one case anywhere on Planet Earth, will be a global health emergency. We stopped routine vaccination against smallpox back in the '70's here in the United States. If you were born after 1979 there is a good chance you were not vaccinated. If you were born prior to that, chances are equally good that you no longer have full immunity to the virus. Many experts believe that a majority of the population is susceptible to Smallpox infection. Since we stopped vaccination, you guessed it, we stopped vaccine production...meaning no vaccine available if the virus were to be released intentionally or reemerge naturally. No immunity, no vaccine. Big problem.
#3 Several types of Smallpox. Specifically, smallpox is a variola virus and there are two types; variola minor and variola major. Variola major is the most severe (and was) the most common type, causing extremely high fever and extensive rash. Variola major comes in four flavors - ordinary (most common, about 90% of historical cases), modified - more common for people with prior vaccination, flat and hemorrhagic round out the category - both are noted in history to be rarely seen, but deadly.
#4 Smallpox is really contagious. Historical data suggests that one person with Smallpox can infect over twenty other people. While this may not sound like much, think about how many people you come in contact with everyday. These number are also based on the assumption that exposure would be accidental. Consider the potential of dissemination of Smallpox, or any other biological agent for that matter, was conducted intentionally. Smallpox is spread by droplet transmission, by direct contact with the sores or eruptions on an infected persons, and by contact with clothing or other items of an infected person. The potential for infection lingers until all the scabs have healed.
#5 Smallpox, like many biologic agents, presents like influenza. The incubation period is generally thought to be 7 to 14 days (some sources say 10 -12 days). A person with Smallpox can spread the virus even before they develop the associated rash. Initial signs and symptoms include; general illness, fever, nausea, vomiting, headache...similar to flu. The rash sprouts in about 3 days, going quickly from lesions to vesicles. This rash develops in a centrifugal pattern...meaning it appears on the face, the palms of hands and the soles of the feet first. In contrast to other rashes like chickenpox (varicella) that concentrates on the trunk of the body.
Read the Demon |
#2 Smallpox, even one case anywhere on Planet Earth, will be a global health emergency. We stopped routine vaccination against smallpox back in the '70's here in the United States. If you were born after 1979 there is a good chance you were not vaccinated. If you were born prior to that, chances are equally good that you no longer have full immunity to the virus. Many experts believe that a majority of the population is susceptible to Smallpox infection. Since we stopped vaccination, you guessed it, we stopped vaccine production...meaning no vaccine available if the virus were to be released intentionally or reemerge naturally. No immunity, no vaccine. Big problem.
#3 Several types of Smallpox. Specifically, smallpox is a variola virus and there are two types; variola minor and variola major. Variola major is the most severe (and was) the most common type, causing extremely high fever and extensive rash. Variola major comes in four flavors - ordinary (most common, about 90% of historical cases), modified - more common for people with prior vaccination, flat and hemorrhagic round out the category - both are noted in history to be rarely seen, but deadly.
#4 Smallpox is really contagious. Historical data suggests that one person with Smallpox can infect over twenty other people. While this may not sound like much, think about how many people you come in contact with everyday. These number are also based on the assumption that exposure would be accidental. Consider the potential of dissemination of Smallpox, or any other biological agent for that matter, was conducted intentionally. Smallpox is spread by droplet transmission, by direct contact with the sores or eruptions on an infected persons, and by contact with clothing or other items of an infected person. The potential for infection lingers until all the scabs have healed.
#5 Smallpox, like many biologic agents, presents like influenza. The incubation period is generally thought to be 7 to 14 days (some sources say 10 -12 days). A person with Smallpox can spread the virus even before they develop the associated rash. Initial signs and symptoms include; general illness, fever, nausea, vomiting, headache...similar to flu. The rash sprouts in about 3 days, going quickly from lesions to vesicles. This rash develops in a centrifugal pattern...meaning it appears on the face, the palms of hands and the soles of the feet first. In contrast to other rashes like chickenpox (varicella) that concentrates on the trunk of the body.
December 14, 2010
The Home Emergency Pocket Guide - Preparedness for all seasons
Home Emergency Pocket Guide |
One of the most frequent questions I get when it comes to disaster preparedness is "where do I start!?" The problem is that those who actually take personal and family readiness seriously can be easily overwhelmed by the amount of material available...even the most motivated of people can find themselves spinning without clear direction. The Home Emergency Pocket Guide from Informed Publishing provides that clear direction in a easy-to-understand format that allows for reference and repetition as well as planning.
If you're like me, you've been using Informed field guides for EMS for years. I reviewed the Home Emergency Pocket Guide and of all the guides and documents I've reviewed in the last few years, this one takes first place.
The Home Emergency Pocket Guide is easy to use and written so anyone quickly quickly find life saving information on everything from planning to first aid. Covering natural disasters, hazardous materials, terrorism and recovery, this guide takes the All-Hazards approach.
I was hooked by page 4: "...preparedness experts have cautioned civilians for decades to take the necessary precautions to help themselves in times of catastrophe. And yet, many of us do not. " We believe it will happen to someone else: we suffer from Optimism Bias - In fact recent data suggests that only 6-7% of the public has done any planning or preparation for disaster or crisis. The Home Emergency Pocket Guide walks you through in a logical direction, the path to being aware and prepared for numerous situations.
The section on first aid is formatted for quick reference and easy recall. ABC'S, CPR, medical emergencies and trauma situations are all covered. Some not-so-common situations are included as you may need to be self reliant in disaster or survival situations. There is even guides for biological agents such as smallpox, botulism, cholera, and anthrax.
The first rule in any emergency is to stop and think. The Home Emergency Pocket Guide provides the foundation for your preparedness efforts. The more prepared the public is...the better the responders can help! Even the most experienced responder can benefit from this guide, giving piece of mind that your family knows what to do while you're responding to crisis.
Donate Today! Support mitigation journal by making a donation of $1.00. Click the "donate" button on the right sidebar. Mitigation Journal is a listener supported independent podcast and blog… and any little bit will help.
Get Mitigation Journal on your e-mail… subscribe to our free e-mail edition of the blog by typing your e-mail address in the e-mail subscription box.
Subscribe to the podcast...FREE! visit us on iTunes and subscribe to get all the podcast information delivered to you each week.
Get the MJ app and support the blog and podcast! Visit the app store at iTunes and for $1.99 purchase the MJ app...its the best way to get the podcast.
December 13, 2010
Consumer Level Hazardous Materials Events
Consumer Level Hazardous Materials Events...A New Way of Thinking.
When you hear "hazardous materials" what comes to mind? Toxic materials housed in some giant factory? A tanker truck overturned on a busy highway? Level 'A' protection and special response teams? If so, you're not alone. The scenes mentioned are what most people think of in terms of hazmat or toxic chemicals.
Its time to change the way we think.
I'd like to introduce you to the concept of Consumer Level Hazardous Materials (CLHM )situations. These are situations where there is a creative use or misuse of chemicals that can be found in any grocery store, do-it-yourself center, or your local drug store. CLHM's can be accidental or intentional. Accidental events, as the title implies, is the unintentional use or misuse of chemical products. Examples of unintentional CLHM events can range from simply mixing two different cleaning products; bleach and an acid of some type, to produce chlorine gas. CLHM's can also be used to carry out an intentional act such as Homemade Chemical Bombs or Chemical Assisted Suicide.
To illustrate the CLHM situations, lets look at this case study -
A homeowner is attempting to clear a clogged drain in his kitchen sink. Over the course of three days, he uses several consumer level products from his local grocery store. None of the products work. Indesparation the homeowner now visits the local builders labyrinth (big box do-it-yourself store) for something stronger...still, no results.
Finally, he pours the remainder of all the drain cleaning products into the drain at the same time. In this case, he used Liquid Plumr, Rooto Professional Drain Opener, Comet, liquid bleach, and some sulphuric acid for good measure. The mixture reacts resulting in a severe inhalation hazard and the homeowner dies. His wife and son are overcome. Responder were called for trouble breathing and entered the structure as anyone might. They are also exposed to the fumes.
This situation actually took place.
Lets take a look at the CLHM involved and get a picture of how bad this is:
When you hear "hazardous materials" what comes to mind? Toxic materials housed in some giant factory? A tanker truck overturned on a busy highway? Level 'A' protection and special response teams? If so, you're not alone. The scenes mentioned are what most people think of in terms of hazmat or toxic chemicals.
Its time to change the way we think.
I'd like to introduce you to the concept of Consumer Level Hazardous Materials (CLHM )situations. These are situations where there is a creative use or misuse of chemicals that can be found in any grocery store, do-it-yourself center, or your local drug store. CLHM's can be accidental or intentional. Accidental events, as the title implies, is the unintentional use or misuse of chemical products. Examples of unintentional CLHM events can range from simply mixing two different cleaning products; bleach and an acid of some type, to produce chlorine gas. CLHM's can also be used to carry out an intentional act such as Homemade Chemical Bombs or Chemical Assisted Suicide.
To illustrate the CLHM situations, lets look at this case study -
A homeowner is attempting to clear a clogged drain in his kitchen sink. Over the course of three days, he uses several consumer level products from his local grocery store. None of the products work. Indesparation the homeowner now visits the local builders labyrinth (big box do-it-yourself store) for something stronger...still, no results.
Finally, he pours the remainder of all the drain cleaning products into the drain at the same time. In this case, he used Liquid Plumr, Rooto Professional Drain Opener, Comet, liquid bleach, and some sulphuric acid for good measure. The mixture reacts resulting in a severe inhalation hazard and the homeowner dies. His wife and son are overcome. Responder were called for trouble breathing and entered the structure as anyone might. They are also exposed to the fumes.
This situation actually took place.
Lets take a look at the CLHM involved and get a picture of how bad this is:
- Liquid Plumr = Sodium Hypoclorite and Lye
- Bleach and Acid (from comet) = chlorine gas
- Bleach and Ammonia = Chloramines
- Lye, an oxydizer = caustic burns, defatting/soapification injury
- Take a deep breath
December 12, 2010
MJ Podcast Edition 200
Mitigation Journal 5 years blogging, 4 years podcasting and MJ Edition #200
Well, here we are! Edition 200 of Mitigation Journal podcast coinciding with the anniversary of this adventure. We're marking not only our 200th edition and four years of podcasting, but five years blogging in the emergency community.
This is also the week I'd like to say 'thank you' to everyone who has supported this project. Like so many other projects, Mitigation Journal has become more than the sum of its parts...with all the listeners, readers, and supporters being those "parts".
This week, Matt, Bob, Dan, Jamie, and I revisit some memorable moments marking the development of Mitigation Journal. We run a bit longer than normal this week...so, sit back, get a fresh coffee, and tune in.
Podcast #200 |
This is also the week I'd like to say 'thank you' to everyone who has supported this project. Like so many other projects, Mitigation Journal has become more than the sum of its parts...with all the listeners, readers, and supporters being those "parts".
This week, Matt, Bob, Dan, Jamie, and I revisit some memorable moments marking the development of Mitigation Journal. We run a bit longer than normal this week...so, sit back, get a fresh coffee, and tune in.
Biological Events Scenario One
Situation: EMS and fire first-response crews are dispatched to a local hotel. There is a high school basketball tournament in town with teams from all over the state. Today, you're called there for the third time...this time for a "male with general illness". You encounter the patient who is complaining of flu-like symptoms and a non-productive cough for several days. He also notes a fever of 102F and general aches and pains. Self medicating with with over the counter cold preparations for over a week, they are no longer helping. He appears ill, tiered, but hemodynamically stable.
Questions:
Would you recognize this situation as a potential biological exposure?
In addition to your standard body substance isolation, what (if any) protective measures would you deploy?
What additional information would help you identify the possibility of exposure and raise your situational awareness?
Discussion:
While it is unlikely that the initial responders would identify an intentional biological event based on one patient contact, they should be aware of the potentials of a naturally occurring biological event. Since most of biological agents (naturally occurring or intentionally released) have an incubation period of 7-14 days, a biologic event can be talking hold of an area prior to signs/symptoms developing. Responders have to be on the lookout for patterns or clusters of illnesses. Situational awareness of outbreaks of "cold and flu" symptoms or unusually large number of calls for people with similar illness patterns, should clue the responder to the potential of an evolving biological event.
Give the questions above some thought.
Questions:
Would you recognize this situation as a potential biological exposure?
In addition to your standard body substance isolation, what (if any) protective measures would you deploy?
What additional information would help you identify the possibility of exposure and raise your situational awareness?
Discussion:
While it is unlikely that the initial responders would identify an intentional biological event based on one patient contact, they should be aware of the potentials of a naturally occurring biological event. Since most of biological agents (naturally occurring or intentionally released) have an incubation period of 7-14 days, a biologic event can be talking hold of an area prior to signs/symptoms developing. Responders have to be on the lookout for patterns or clusters of illnesses. Situational awareness of outbreaks of "cold and flu" symptoms or unusually large number of calls for people with similar illness patterns, should clue the responder to the potential of an evolving biological event.
Give the questions above some thought.
December 11, 2010
CO events...When are you going to take notice?
Embrace the practice of monitoring for CO...in patients and responders
I talk about carbon monoxide and cyanide quite a bit in this blog and on the podcast. I also get several emails after each CO and cyanide post telling me how boring the topic is, telling me that the CO thing has been "done.." and we don't need to keep going over it. I also get some flack from those who don't want to hear about non-invasive monitoring (ie monitoring for CO levels in patients). In fact, the most often (over)used comment is: "using a CO monitoring device on a patient is a waste...we're going to take them to the hospital anyway..."
Ignorance.
There have been four significant carbon monoxide events within the last three months here in Rochester, NY. Two deaths, numerous serious illnesses, and an evacuation of a nursing home. I wonder how many low-level chronic exposures are going undetected? Chronic exposure to CO has been linked to cardiovascular events and often misdiagnosed as cold or flu. Responders are also at risk...not just at fire events...but working in any environment. Why do responders and administrators continue to ignore the technology and the practice that may allow for rapid screening and detection of occult CO exposure?
Ignorance.
After all, we're going to take the person with headache, nausea, or vomiting (signs of exposure) to the hospital anyway...so why bother? Good point.
Lets look at it this way:
Why bother doing an ECG or 12-lead on a patient with chest pressure and shortness of breath (signs of a cardiac event)?...after all, we're going to take them to the hospital anyway...
12/10/2010 http://www.13wham.com/news/local/story/Woman-Dies-of-CO-Poisoning-Boyfriend-Released/A0CArnFpSkqmrMv-pDLUqg.cspx
11/10/2010 http://www.13wham.com/news/local/story/Penfield-Man-Dies-of-Carbon-Monoxide-Poisoning-in/UwgwR8FNPUCveJM52CdjaA.cspx
11/25/2010 http://www.13wham.com/news/local/story/Carbon-Monoxide-Leak-at-Nursing-Home/u4BTCSTpgk6SBS2_1BAV7w.cspx
10/22/2010 http://www.13wham.com/news/local/story/Carbon-Monoxide-Scare-Lands-Brighton-Family-in/YH8Osg2xSkOO57x_Fz-mfA.cspx
I talk about carbon monoxide and cyanide quite a bit in this blog and on the podcast. I also get several emails after each CO and cyanide post telling me how boring the topic is, telling me that the CO thing has been "done.." and we don't need to keep going over it. I also get some flack from those who don't want to hear about non-invasive monitoring (ie monitoring for CO levels in patients). In fact, the most often (over)used comment is: "using a CO monitoring device on a patient is a waste...we're going to take them to the hospital anyway..."
Ignorance.
There have been four significant carbon monoxide events within the last three months here in Rochester, NY. Two deaths, numerous serious illnesses, and an evacuation of a nursing home. I wonder how many low-level chronic exposures are going undetected? Chronic exposure to CO has been linked to cardiovascular events and often misdiagnosed as cold or flu. Responders are also at risk...not just at fire events...but working in any environment. Why do responders and administrators continue to ignore the technology and the practice that may allow for rapid screening and detection of occult CO exposure?
Ignorance.
After all, we're going to take the person with headache, nausea, or vomiting (signs of exposure) to the hospital anyway...so why bother? Good point.
Lets look at it this way:
Why bother doing an ECG or 12-lead on a patient with chest pressure and shortness of breath (signs of a cardiac event)?...after all, we're going to take them to the hospital anyway...
12/10/2010 http://www.13wham.com/news/local/story/Woman-Dies-of-CO-Poisoning-Boyfriend-Released/A0CArnFpSkqmrMv-pDLUqg.cspx
11/10/2010 http://www.13wham.com/news/local/story/Penfield-Man-Dies-of-Carbon-Monoxide-Poisoning-in/UwgwR8FNPUCveJM52CdjaA.cspx
11/25/2010 http://www.13wham.com/news/local/story/Carbon-Monoxide-Leak-at-Nursing-Home/u4BTCSTpgk6SBS2_1BAV7w.cspx
10/22/2010 http://www.13wham.com/news/local/story/Carbon-Monoxide-Scare-Lands-Brighton-Family-in/YH8Osg2xSkOO57x_Fz-mfA.cspx
Not your average fire safety video
Not your average fire safety video...but maybe more realistic.
Here is some fire safety information on another level...that we're not used to. This video was created by a friend of my kids for a school project and I thought you'd get a kick out of it.
I want to thank Thomas for his creativity and realism on the subject.
Here is some fire safety information on another level...that we're not used to. This video was created by a friend of my kids for a school project and I thought you'd get a kick out of it.
I want to thank Thomas for his creativity and realism on the subject.
December 10, 2010
Holiday Fire Safety Reminders
Holiday Fire Safety Reminders...because responders need to hear it, too.
I know we're all in the emergency service business and are used to being the ones delivering this message. It's just as important to remind each other of the importance fire safety during the holidays as it is to remind the public. The holiday season brings additional risks and requires vigilance to prevent tragedy related to fires. According the the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), there are about 250 residential structure fires involving Christmas trees and another 170 fires attributed to holiday lights and decorations each year. The results are numerous deaths and injuries.
Join Mitigation Journal and the NFPA/USFA in an attempt to decrease the holiday tragedies related to fires. Remember, as responders we are not immune to fires in our own homes. We have a duty to serve the public and ourselves by keeping a few important from the USFA/NFPA points in mind:
Care for your tree:
Do not place your tree close to a heat source, including a fireplace or heat vent. The heat will dry out the tree, causing it to be more easily ignited by heat, flame or sparks. Be careful not to drop or flick cigarette ashes near a tree. Do not put your live tree up too early or leave it up for longer than two weeks. Keep the tree stand filled with water at all times.Maintain your lights:
Inspect holiday lights each year for frayed wires, bare spots, gaps in the insulation, broken or cracked sockets, and excessive kinking or wear before putting them up. Use only lighting listed by an approved testing laboratory. And do not leave holiday lights unattended!Avoid using real candles:
If you do use lit candles, make sure they are in stable holders and place them where they cannot be easily knocked down. Never leave the house with candles burning.Keep two ways out:
Ensure that trees and other holiday decorations do not block an exit way. In the event of a fire, time is of the essence. A blocked entry/exit way puts you and your family at risk.
December 9, 2010
Three Things the new Homeland Security Advisory System Must Do
Color Code Homeland Security Advisory System to Retire...Well, maybe.
The Department of Homeland Security is considering a retirement of that ridiculous color-coded threat assessment system. According to a number of mainstream media reports, this system which has been in place since 2002, is now out dated. You may recall that this threat level color code system was instituted by a Homeland Security Presidential Directive 3 (HSPD three) and has come under scrutiny and criticism ever since. So with this system gone, we have to ask; what will replace it.
My opinion is that we should take the entire color code style assessment system and replace it with the old “test pattern” that used to see when a TV station went off the air… for those of you that remember the days when television stations actually stopped broadcasting at night.
Why do I say that? Simply because no one paid attention to the color code system since its inception. Worse than that, often times the system was misleading and failed to provide any type of useful information to the public. But while we are bashing the terrorism threat color code system lets not forget that there are other systems that are equally ignored by the public like fire alarms and public alerting sirens. These other systems have a few things in common with the color code threat level system… that common thread is: irrelevance.
And here is why I think the Homeland security advisory system is irrelevant: it does not do what it was designed to do… it never did. And worse, those other types of alerting systems suffer the same level of "ignore it and it will go away" attitude from the public.
While we don't know what type of system (if any) will replace this color code terrorism threat thing, I do have an opinion as to what the next generation of threat alerting system should do:
First, any warning system should engage the public with meaningful intelligence and data. The information the system provides has to make sense to the public and provide some type of concrete information.
Second, a warning system has to define an action. It has to underscore the level of preparedness that should be taken for each level of warning… it has to call us to action. Think about the last time you were in a public place in the fire alarm went off. Perhaps you've been in a restaurant when the fire alarm system activated. When in public, how often do you see people actually leave the location when the fire alarm goes off? Often times you'll see people continue about their business while the fire alarm rings. To be effective a warning system has to change behavior.
Third, an alerting system or warning system has to inform the public when to de-escalate or stand down from a threat. Unsubstantiated and prolonged periods of increased vigilance lead to sensory burn out and decrease the efficiency and effectiveness of future warnings. A warning system has to have a defined end point–just the opposite of telling people what to do when the threat level increases or the alarm goes off, we have to tell them what we want them to do when the threat has been relieved.
The Department of Homeland Security is considering a retirement of that ridiculous color-coded threat assessment system. According to a number of mainstream media reports, this system which has been in place since 2002, is now out dated. You may recall that this threat level color code system was instituted by a Homeland Security Presidential Directive 3 (HSPD three) and has come under scrutiny and criticism ever since. So with this system gone, we have to ask; what will replace it.
My opinion is that we should take the entire color code style assessment system and replace it with the old “test pattern” that used to see when a TV station went off the air… for those of you that remember the days when television stations actually stopped broadcasting at night.
Why do I say that? Simply because no one paid attention to the color code system since its inception. Worse than that, often times the system was misleading and failed to provide any type of useful information to the public. But while we are bashing the terrorism threat color code system lets not forget that there are other systems that are equally ignored by the public like fire alarms and public alerting sirens. These other systems have a few things in common with the color code threat level system… that common thread is: irrelevance.
And here is why I think the Homeland security advisory system is irrelevant: it does not do what it was designed to do… it never did. And worse, those other types of alerting systems suffer the same level of "ignore it and it will go away" attitude from the public.
While we don't know what type of system (if any) will replace this color code terrorism threat thing, I do have an opinion as to what the next generation of threat alerting system should do:
First, any warning system should engage the public with meaningful intelligence and data. The information the system provides has to make sense to the public and provide some type of concrete information.
Second, a warning system has to define an action. It has to underscore the level of preparedness that should be taken for each level of warning… it has to call us to action. Think about the last time you were in a public place in the fire alarm went off. Perhaps you've been in a restaurant when the fire alarm system activated. When in public, how often do you see people actually leave the location when the fire alarm goes off? Often times you'll see people continue about their business while the fire alarm rings. To be effective a warning system has to change behavior.
Third, an alerting system or warning system has to inform the public when to de-escalate or stand down from a threat. Unsubstantiated and prolonged periods of increased vigilance lead to sensory burn out and decrease the efficiency and effectiveness of future warnings. A warning system has to have a defined end point–just the opposite of telling people what to do when the threat level increases or the alarm goes off, we have to tell them what we want them to do when the threat has been relieved.
December 8, 2010
MJ Podcast #199: DHS Threat System Changes, WikiLeaks and You, Survive in your car for a day?
Click for MJ Podcast #199 |
Matt and I churn up a few good topics this week on the podcast. First, we discuss that ridiculous color-code threat system the Department of Homeland Security has been using. The color code system has never been meaningful to the public or those in emergency management...other than for jokes, that is. Its due to be replaced (but we don't know when or with what). In this segment, we discuss the top three things a a warning system should do. We'll also have a separate blog posting out on this topic scheduled for December 9. This post will have additional information, history and links. Click here for a sneak preview or check back at Mitigation Journal blog for more details.
Next up, we tackle the WikiLeak situation from a different point of view...yours. What would life be like if your public service had a WikiLeak of its very own? Would you be able to defend your budget secrets, your spending, or your billing practices? Would you want the public to know the deep-dark secrets of your quality assurance process? What if the general public (including those who what to do you harm with an intentional event) got a hold of you pre-incident plans or other response plans? Would your personnel be at risk? Consider the impact to you public support if your agency secrets became public...
Finally, this week, we discuss a situation from Western New York (South of Buffalo) where over 100 people were stranded on a 10-mile stretch of I-90. Could you survive in your car for a day...during a snow storm? We've got a post up about this and add to the suggestions for keeping yourself prepared when traveling.
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Survival Basics
Survival basics for your car will keep you going and improve response.
Hundreds of motorists were stranded on the New York State Thruway this week when a tractor-trailer jackknifed blocking the road during a snowstorm. The storm eventually dumped over 2 feet of snow in the region south of Buffalo, New York. Hundreds of occupants of personal vehicles and commercial vehicles were stranded without any means of escape during the storm. Many were stranded for over 24 hours. Eventually, local fire department and police crews were able to make their way down the miles long lanes of stranded motorists to deliver extra fuel, food, and to assess the situation.
Criticism of the New York State Thruway authority has been building since the event on December 1, 2010. One of the criticisms was that the authority allowed traffic to enter the block area of roadway during the storm even though they were aware of the traffic jam. Another shortcoming has been described as the lack of a plan to deal with such emergencies and allowing the area to go on monitored and not being able to remove the truck blocking the lanes of travel.
This event has important emergency management and preparedness implications for us. First, we have to remember that no response will be successful if the public involved has not done at least some preparedness. In this case, it appears that few if any of the motorists in either private or commercial vehicles had any emergency supplies. Most complained of being cold yet did not have any spare clothing with them… some did not even appear to be dressed appropriately for the environment found in western New York this time of year. Another important thing to consider is the length of time it took traditional responders (police and local fire apartment) to get to those trapped in the snow. Most accounts indicate that it was over 12 hours before rescuers were able to make their way into the traffic jam to deliver supplies and assess the situation. One source was quoted as saying the reason for this delay was because this area of roadway is not routinely monitored by any jurisdiction.
Another frustration expressed by stranded motorists was that the responders were not able to give them any information on the situation. While this may be difficult to do, we should make every attempt to craft a generic statement that will give the civilians some information. That statement could be as simple as which radio station to tune into to get information and updates. A common misconception is that if we inform the public of the actual situation they will panic. This is clearly a false belief. Information helps keep people calm and promotes compliance with instruction. Disaster research shows that when people are poorly informed, feel trapped, and hopeless that they begin to panic and make poor decisions.
Once again we have a local example of Optimism Bias in action. That is, it won't happen to me… if it happens to me, someone will be there to rescue me. We have to take measures to protect ourselves and be able to be self-sufficient (even rudimentary effort would help) in cases where rescue or assistance may be delayed.
Here are my tips for survival when stranded:
First, be sure to keep your car's fuel tank greater than half-full. Keeping your vehicles fuel tank above half full or better will help make sure you can navigate detours if you're route is blocked. Keeping that much fuel in your vehicle will also allow you to run the engine for much longer in order to stay warm. It's important to keep in mind also that you should run the vehicle's motor only intermittently when stranded… just enough to warm up the interior every 30 to 45 minutes. On this point we should also mention the need for good ventilation in your vehicle… keeping a window cracked open to allow for fresh air and periodically checking the exhaust pipe to ensure it has not become blocked with snow or debris. Failing to do either of those could result in exposure to automobile exhaust and carbon monoxide poisoning.
Second keep a survival kit in your car. It does not have to be elaborate put should contain a few simple items. A hat, gloves, extra socks, and a pair of boots would be helpful as well as a warm blanket. It's best also to have some shelf stable snacks available. Candy bars, energy bars, and those little crackers and cheese combination will work just fine. Along with something to eat you should try to keep something to drink in your vehicle as well.
Third, communications is key. Although we all have cellular phones these days it won't do us much good if the battery runs out. Therefore, keeping your cell phone charger (the car adapter type) in the vehicle will go a long way to letting people know where you are and getting information… especially if you were stranded for a prolonged period of time. Another important part of communications is your communications plan. Although we take traveling for granted it's important to let people know when were leaving and when we plan to arrive at our next destination. This is especially helpful when traveling during inclement weather seasons or in unfamiliar areas.
And finally, don't forget the shovel and salt. Keeping a small shovel in your vehicle may mean the difference between being stranded and effecting a self rescue. Also keeping a small bag of sand, gravel, or rock salt may be able to provide the needed traction to get yourself unstuck.
Although I recommend a shelter in place approach to surviving these situations, there may come a time where you have to decide to attempt self evacuation. The decision to leave safe shelter and walk out into a storm is not one to make lightly. You must consider your level of fitness, your clothing, your hydration and nutrition status, and the environment before attempting self rescue.
Planning and preparedness.
For those of us responsible for responding to such events there are several keys to successful operations. The first, of course, is pre-incident planning. If you have stretches of highway in your area you can find yourself dealing with hundreds, perhaps thousands, of stranded motorists in any season… from any cause. There is no excuse for not pre-planning your response with various size highway incidents involving multiple patients. Your threat assessment is a major part of the pre-planning process and should include natural as well as man-made events.
As a traditional responder you'll need to consider additional points:
First, what personnel and resources will I be able to bring to this situation and how long will deployment take. In these large-scale events deployment of resources is often best done only after sufficient personnel, supplies, and equipment have been staged to support the effort. Although rapid triage crews may be effective, the main thrust of the response should only take place when all the pieces are together.
Secondly, you must make provisions early on for emergency incident rehabilitation. Your responders will be providing assessment and care in very difficult environmental conditions. Appropriate rehab and rotation of responders will go a long way to maximizing efficiency and extending crew viability.
Third, you'll have to make some difficult decisions as to shelter in place versus attempt evacuation. As noted above there are several conditions that have to be taken into account before people are moved from an area of relative safety into a hazard area.
This post will also appear in ProResponder
Hundreds of motorists were stranded on the New York State Thruway this week when a tractor-trailer jackknifed blocking the road during a snowstorm. The storm eventually dumped over 2 feet of snow in the region south of Buffalo, New York. Hundreds of occupants of personal vehicles and commercial vehicles were stranded without any means of escape during the storm. Many were stranded for over 24 hours. Eventually, local fire department and police crews were able to make their way down the miles long lanes of stranded motorists to deliver extra fuel, food, and to assess the situation.
Criticism of the New York State Thruway authority has been building since the event on December 1, 2010. One of the criticisms was that the authority allowed traffic to enter the block area of roadway during the storm even though they were aware of the traffic jam. Another shortcoming has been described as the lack of a plan to deal with such emergencies and allowing the area to go on monitored and not being able to remove the truck blocking the lanes of travel.
This event has important emergency management and preparedness implications for us. First, we have to remember that no response will be successful if the public involved has not done at least some preparedness. In this case, it appears that few if any of the motorists in either private or commercial vehicles had any emergency supplies. Most complained of being cold yet did not have any spare clothing with them… some did not even appear to be dressed appropriately for the environment found in western New York this time of year. Another important thing to consider is the length of time it took traditional responders (police and local fire apartment) to get to those trapped in the snow. Most accounts indicate that it was over 12 hours before rescuers were able to make their way into the traffic jam to deliver supplies and assess the situation. One source was quoted as saying the reason for this delay was because this area of roadway is not routinely monitored by any jurisdiction.
Another frustration expressed by stranded motorists was that the responders were not able to give them any information on the situation. While this may be difficult to do, we should make every attempt to craft a generic statement that will give the civilians some information. That statement could be as simple as which radio station to tune into to get information and updates. A common misconception is that if we inform the public of the actual situation they will panic. This is clearly a false belief. Information helps keep people calm and promotes compliance with instruction. Disaster research shows that when people are poorly informed, feel trapped, and hopeless that they begin to panic and make poor decisions.
Once again we have a local example of Optimism Bias in action. That is, it won't happen to me… if it happens to me, someone will be there to rescue me. We have to take measures to protect ourselves and be able to be self-sufficient (even rudimentary effort would help) in cases where rescue or assistance may be delayed.
Here are my tips for survival when stranded:
First, be sure to keep your car's fuel tank greater than half-full. Keeping your vehicles fuel tank above half full or better will help make sure you can navigate detours if you're route is blocked. Keeping that much fuel in your vehicle will also allow you to run the engine for much longer in order to stay warm. It's important to keep in mind also that you should run the vehicle's motor only intermittently when stranded… just enough to warm up the interior every 30 to 45 minutes. On this point we should also mention the need for good ventilation in your vehicle… keeping a window cracked open to allow for fresh air and periodically checking the exhaust pipe to ensure it has not become blocked with snow or debris. Failing to do either of those could result in exposure to automobile exhaust and carbon monoxide poisoning.
Second keep a survival kit in your car. It does not have to be elaborate put should contain a few simple items. A hat, gloves, extra socks, and a pair of boots would be helpful as well as a warm blanket. It's best also to have some shelf stable snacks available. Candy bars, energy bars, and those little crackers and cheese combination will work just fine. Along with something to eat you should try to keep something to drink in your vehicle as well.
Third, communications is key. Although we all have cellular phones these days it won't do us much good if the battery runs out. Therefore, keeping your cell phone charger (the car adapter type) in the vehicle will go a long way to letting people know where you are and getting information… especially if you were stranded for a prolonged period of time. Another important part of communications is your communications plan. Although we take traveling for granted it's important to let people know when were leaving and when we plan to arrive at our next destination. This is especially helpful when traveling during inclement weather seasons or in unfamiliar areas.
And finally, don't forget the shovel and salt. Keeping a small shovel in your vehicle may mean the difference between being stranded and effecting a self rescue. Also keeping a small bag of sand, gravel, or rock salt may be able to provide the needed traction to get yourself unstuck.
Although I recommend a shelter in place approach to surviving these situations, there may come a time where you have to decide to attempt self evacuation. The decision to leave safe shelter and walk out into a storm is not one to make lightly. You must consider your level of fitness, your clothing, your hydration and nutrition status, and the environment before attempting self rescue.
Planning and preparedness.
For those of us responsible for responding to such events there are several keys to successful operations. The first, of course, is pre-incident planning. If you have stretches of highway in your area you can find yourself dealing with hundreds, perhaps thousands, of stranded motorists in any season… from any cause. There is no excuse for not pre-planning your response with various size highway incidents involving multiple patients. Your threat assessment is a major part of the pre-planning process and should include natural as well as man-made events.
As a traditional responder you'll need to consider additional points:
First, what personnel and resources will I be able to bring to this situation and how long will deployment take. In these large-scale events deployment of resources is often best done only after sufficient personnel, supplies, and equipment have been staged to support the effort. Although rapid triage crews may be effective, the main thrust of the response should only take place when all the pieces are together.
Secondly, you must make provisions early on for emergency incident rehabilitation. Your responders will be providing assessment and care in very difficult environmental conditions. Appropriate rehab and rotation of responders will go a long way to maximizing efficiency and extending crew viability.
Third, you'll have to make some difficult decisions as to shelter in place versus attempt evacuation. As noted above there are several conditions that have to be taken into account before people are moved from an area of relative safety into a hazard area.
This post will also appear in ProResponder
December 7, 2010
What if your agency had a Wiki-Leak?
Food for thought...when your internal secrets become public.
Would you try to stop it? Would you try to prevent your deep, dark, agency secrets from becoming public? We're all familiar with the current wiki leak situation that's causing a stir around the globe. But what if this Internet distribution of sensitive information came home to roost in your emergency service?
How confident are you that your service is properly collecting Medicaid or Medicare dollars, tax dollars, or is correctly billing for services? How would a wiki week on your billing practices or other revenue-generating activities be seen by your community?
How about your policies and procedures? Would they stand up to public scrutiny if to be suddenly made available to your general public? What about your quality assurance practices? It would be very interesting for the public to find out about some of the well-kept secrets and emergency service surrounding the quality and delivery of that service.
So, while the world is focused on the wiki leak induced hysteria over secret documents, take a few minutes to examine your internal structure… from billing to quality assurance… and ask yourself how would we measure up if all this got out?
Would you shine, or get a shiner?
Would you try to stop it? Would you try to prevent your deep, dark, agency secrets from becoming public? We're all familiar with the current wiki leak situation that's causing a stir around the globe. But what if this Internet distribution of sensitive information came home to roost in your emergency service?
How confident are you that your service is properly collecting Medicaid or Medicare dollars, tax dollars, or is correctly billing for services? How would a wiki week on your billing practices or other revenue-generating activities be seen by your community?
How about your policies and procedures? Would they stand up to public scrutiny if to be suddenly made available to your general public? What about your quality assurance practices? It would be very interesting for the public to find out about some of the well-kept secrets and emergency service surrounding the quality and delivery of that service.
So, while the world is focused on the wiki leak induced hysteria over secret documents, take a few minutes to examine your internal structure… from billing to quality assurance… and ask yourself how would we measure up if all this got out?
Would you shine, or get a shiner?
December 3, 2010
Sara Russotti December 3, 2005
Dear Sara,
It's been five-years. Time has sailed by without you here. So many changes and so many gifts we'd like to share. None of our gifts could match the joy you've gave in your short time with us. Your brother and sisters have grown so much...but they have not out-grown you. You have a baby sister now...that makes you the big sister! I wonder how you'd like that?
I often think about what we'd do if we were together. Would we color or play catch? Build a snowman or go sledding? Or, would we just sit with the sun and look at the leaves? Oh, what I would give for the summers we didn't have or the pictures we didn't color...for the daughter I can not hold.
You remain in our hearts and we see you in every sunbeam and snowflake. We wait for the day we can hold you again...
It's been five-years. Time has sailed by without you here. So many changes and so many gifts we'd like to share. None of our gifts could match the joy you've gave in your short time with us. Your brother and sisters have grown so much...but they have not out-grown you. You have a baby sister now...that makes you the big sister! I wonder how you'd like that?
I often think about what we'd do if we were together. Would we color or play catch? Build a snowman or go sledding? Or, would we just sit with the sun and look at the leaves? Oh, what I would give for the summers we didn't have or the pictures we didn't color...for the daughter I can not hold.
You remain in our hearts and we see you in every sunbeam and snowflake. We wait for the day we can hold you again...
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