scholarly journals Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosive (CBRNE) Science and the CBRNE Science Medical Operations Science Support Expert (CMOSSE)

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 995-1010
Author(s):  
C. Norman Coleman ◽  
Judith L. Bader ◽  
John F. Koerner ◽  
Chad Hrdina ◽  
Kenneth D. Cliffer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Subject Matter ◽  
Systems Approach ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Incident Management ◽  
Senior Managers ◽  
Preparedness Planning ◽  
Medical Response ◽  
Core Elements ◽  
Subject Matter Expertise ◽  
Response And Recovery

ABSTRACTA national need is to prepare for and respond to accidental or intentional disasters categorized as chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, or explosive (CBRNE). These incidents require specific subject-matter expertise, yet have commonalities. We identify 7 core elements comprising CBRNE science that require integration for effective preparedness planning and public health and medical response and recovery. These core elements are (1) basic and clinical sciences, (2) modeling and systems management, (3) planning, (4) response and incident management, (5) recovery and resilience, (6) lessons learned, and (7) continuous improvement. A key feature is the ability of relevant subject matter experts to integrate information into response operations. We propose the CBRNE medical operations science support expert as a professional who (1) understands that CBRNE incidents require an integrated systems approach, (2) understands the key functions and contributions of CBRNE science practitioners, (3) helps direct strategic and tactical CBRNE planning and responses through first-hand experience, and (4) provides advice to senior decision-makers managing response activities. Recognition of both CBRNE science as a distinct competency and the establishment of the CBRNE medical operations science support expert informs the public of the enormous progress made, broadcasts opportunities for new talent, and enhances the sophistication and analytic expertise of senior managers planning for and responding to CBRNE incidents.

The CDC Field Epidemiology Manual

2019 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Disease Outbreaks ◽  
Incident Management ◽  
The Public ◽  
Field Epidemiology ◽  
Field Investigations ◽  
Toxic Agents ◽  
Core Elements ◽  
Multiple State ◽  
Prompt Action ◽  
Collection And Management

The CDC Field Epidemiology Manual is the definitive resource for the most up-to-date guidance for epidemiologists and other experts conducting field investigations to address acute public health concerns that require prompt action. This latest edition (an update of the 3rd edition of the popular book Field Epidemiology, edited by Dr. Michael Gregg) offers practical advice to guide investigators through the core elements of field investigations, beginning with initiating operations and ending with developing interventions and communicating findings to the public. The manual also provides special considerations to address challenges that often arise during field investigations, such as addressing legal issues, working with multiple state and federal agencies, navigating a multinational outbreak investigation, and working within an incident management structure. The manual includes updated information on using new tools for field investigations, such as the latest technologies for data collection and management and incorporating data from geographic information systems (GIS). Finally, the manual includes tips for investigations in a wide variety of settings, including healthcare and community congregate settings, and different types of outbreaks, including acute enteric disease outbreaks, those suspected to be related to intentional use of biologic and toxic agents, and outbreaks of suicide, violence, and other forms of injury. The manual is written primarily for epidemiologists who will be conducting field investigations in local, state, federal, or international settings. However, others who contribute to field investigations (e.g., laboratory scientists, lawyers, experts in public policy and communications) will also find the book to be an excellent source of information. The manual is written in an easily readable format, including boxes and bulleted points, to provide greater utility for investigators in the field.

scholarly journals (P2-17) “Burning Valentine,” a Simulated Evacuation Exercise of a Burn Unit (BU)

2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (S1) ◽  
pp. s141-s141
Author(s):  
E.L. Dhondt ◽  
T. Peeters ◽  
L. Orlans
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Preparedness ◽  
Fire Detection ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Mitigation Measures ◽  
Simulated Patients ◽  
Military Hospital ◽  
Incident Management ◽  
Hospital Emergency ◽  
Burn Care ◽  
Evacuation Drills

BackgroundAccording to the Belgian Hospital Disaster Planning Act, all hospitals are required to have written disaster plans and to routinely conduct annual disaster drills. In 2010, the management of the Military Hospital decided to organize an evacuation exercise of the newly built 24-bed BU.AimTo evaluate this new BU's evacuation plan and drills and the overall hospital emergency incident response and command system.Methods and ResultsIt was decided to conduct a simulated evacuation exercise following an internal fire, before the BU effectively was put into use, thereby deploying fashioned simulated patients and visitors but bringing into action the regular attending medical, nursing and logistic staff. A multidisciplinary design and organizing team was launched, consisting of the hospitals disaster preparedness coordinator, the EMS-staff, external burn care, emergency incident management and operational engineering experts. The appointed objectives for evaluation were the knowledge of the regular evacuation drills, especially the clearance of an intensive care room; access to evacuation routes; visibility of safety guidelines; mission and tasks of the hospital's first response team and the medical incident manager; communication and information flow and the establishment of the hospital's coordination committee. In the mean time and following lessons learned, a number of mitigation measures have been instituted: adequate identification of evacuated rooms, new configuration of the fire detection alarm, optimized access to stairwells and elevators, adjustment of action cards and specific fire fighting training for hospital staff. Finally the decision was made not to purchase specific evacuation equipment for the movement of patients.ConclusionTaking advantage of the BU's provisional vacancy, a simulated hospital evacuation exercise increased the hospital emergency preparedness, awareness and response to disasters within the hospital, in particular in a critical care department, otherwise difficult to assess.

Transportation Fuel Resiliency: Case Study of Tampa Bay

2021 ◽  
pp. 036119812110416
Author(s):  
Alexander Kolpakov ◽  
Austin Marie Sipiora ◽  
Caley Johnson ◽  
Erin Nobler
Keyword(s):  
Alternative Fuels ◽  
The United States ◽  
Tampa Bay ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Transportation Fuel ◽  
Fuel Supply ◽  
Preparedness Planning ◽  
The Past ◽  
Hurricane Irma

This case study presents findings from an analysis of the emergency preparation and response for Hurricane Irma, the most recent hurricane impacting the Tampa Bay region. The Tampa Bay region, in particular, is considered one of the most vulnerable areas in the United States to hurricanes and severe tropical weather. A particular vulnerability stems from how all petroleum fuel comes to the area by marine transport through Port Tampa Bay, which can be (and has been in the past) impacted by hurricanes and tropical storms. The case study discussed in this paper covers previous fuel challenges, vulnerabilities, and lessons learned by key Tampa Bay public agency fleets during the past 10 years (mainly as a result of the most recent 2017 Hurricane Irma) to explore ways to improve the area’s resilience to natural disasters. Some of the strategies for fuel-supply resiliency include maintaining emergency fuel supply, prioritizing fuel use, strategically placing the assets around the region to help with recovery, investing in backup generators (including generators powered by alternative fuels), planning for redundancies in fuel supply networks, developing more efficient communication procedures between public fleets, hurricane preparedness-planning, and upgrading street drainage systems to reduce the threat of local flooding.

Not your typical “historian”

2018 ◽  
Vol 27 (5) ◽  
pp. 523-533
Author(s):  
Adrienne Lefevre ◽  
Madison Walter-Garcia ◽  
Kimberly Hanson ◽  
Julia Smith-Easley
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Incident Management ◽  
Public Health Response ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Incident Command ◽  
Health Community ◽  
Health Response ◽  
Decision Making Processes

Purpose In the incident command system (ICS) structure, response documentation is formally found within the planning section. However, longer term emergency responses have demonstrated the need for a flexible and innovative role that encompasses a variety of activities, including response documentation, communications science, real-time evaluation of major themes, and information management. The paper aims to discuss this issue. Design/methodology/approach This need can be universally met through the functional role of “Historian,” a term specific to ICS, or in the case of public health response, incident management system (IMS). It should be noted that the Historian role discussed is not related to the academic study of history, but to archiving key successes and challenges during a response. Ideally the Historian should be activated at the start of an emergency response and remain active to capture the overall picture of the response, including internal information, such as lessons learned, response activities, and decision-making processes. Findings The Historian compiles details of response activities that inform leadership, donors and external communications products while alleviating pressures on the planning section. The primary, minimum output of an IMS Historian is a response timeline, which notes major internal and external events during a response with emphasis on major themes, lessons learned, and creating a user-friendly interface to display this information (see the list “Abbreviated Example of Hurricane Matthew Response Timeline” in the text). Originality/value In a world with competing priorities and ongoing emergencies, the Historian’s role of archiving details of response efforts can help the international public health community to share lessons learned and contribute to lower morbidity and mortality among those affected by emergencies.

Healthcare handoffs among lay caregivers

2021 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Janet Chastain ◽  
Anil R Kumar ◽  
Dan Nathan-Roberts
Keyword(s):  
Study Design ◽  
Subject Matter ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Informal Caregivers ◽  
Group Analysis ◽  
Primary Objective ◽  
Home Healthcare ◽  
Conflicting Information ◽  
Subject Matter Expertise ◽  
Published Research

Abstract Background Much of home healthcare is also performed by informal caregivers. This paper seeks to add understanding to the home healthcare field, specifically studying care handoffs between informal caregivers. This study included 16 trained and 20 lay participants to determine differences due to expertise. This comparison is useful because there is a lot of published research on healthcare handoff happenings involving healthcare professionals, and the results indicate how much of the published research can be applied to care handoffs between informal caregivers. Objective The primary objective of this study is to identify differences between lay and professional caregivers when there is uncertainty in a caregiving handoff from their fellow caregiver. Methods The study design included between-group analysis of Expertise (layman and expert) and within-group analysis of Task Difficulty and Communication Modality. Dependent variables included willingness to ask for help, confidence in handoff instructions, confidence in the ability to complete tasks and task accuracy. Both Expertise groups were given the same four scenarios in a repeated measures study design. Results The findings suggest statistically significant differences in how informal caregivers respond to unclear handoff instructions, where lay participants were more confident in understanding instructions, more confident in executing the tasks, less willing to ask for help and also less able to spot and resolve conflicting information compared to trained participants. Lower performance in resolving conflicting information was exhibited by the lay participants. However, when comparing with the syringes that were prepared correctly, it was observed that the accuracy of those prepared syringes was higher for lay participants than for trained participants. Conclusion It was anticipated that lay participants would be more willing to ask for help due to lack of subject matter expertise and trained participants would be more confident in completing tasks due to their superior subject matter expertise, but the opposite was true in both cases. It was also anticipated that lay and trained participants would be equally confident of the instructions given by their fellow caregiver, yet trained participants were less confident. The results from this study have impacts on the design of instructions (often by formal caregivers) for informal caregivers.

Robots Underwater! Learning Science, Engineering and 21st Century Skills

2012 ◽  
pp. 141-167 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elisabeth McGrath ◽  
Susan Lowes ◽  
Mercedes McKay ◽  
Jason Sayres ◽  
Peiyi Lin
Keyword(s):  
High School Students ◽  
Curriculum Design ◽  
Scale Up ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Learning Goals ◽  
Underwater Robotics ◽  
School Students ◽  
Curriculum Redesign ◽  
Core Elements ◽  
K 12

The underwater environment presents novel challenges that can facilitate unique learning experiences for students engaged in robotics programs. Although the number of underwater educational robotics programs is small by comparison to other forms of K-12 robotics initiatives, several do exist, which have varying learning goals, implementation approaches, and tools. This chapter describes an underwater robotics program using LEGO® MINDSTORMS® components and related materials for middle and high school students. The program, known as WaterBotics™, has undergone an extensive, four-year research and development phase and curriculum redesign effort. This chapter describes the theoretical framework of the curriculum design, the components and resources available in the challenge-based curriculum, and lessons learned about teacher practices and their relationship to student learning outcomes in physical science, Information Technology skills, engineering design, and engineering career interest. “Core elements of success” of the program and curricular adaptations are described in the context of a scale-up initiative that is adapting the curriculum for use in informal education settings.

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