Disaster Preparedness: Creating a Web-based Deployment Kit

2006 ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 210-216 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heather E. Kaiser ◽  
Daniel J. Barnett ◽  
Edbert B. Hsu ◽  
Thomas D. Kirsch ◽  
James J. James ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTBackground: Although the training of future physicians in disaster preparedness and public health issues has been recognized as an important component of graduate medical education, medical students receive relatively limited exposure to these topics. Recommendations have been made to incorporate disaster medicine and public health preparedness into medical school curricula. To date, the perspectives of future physicians on disaster medicine and public health preparedness issues have not been described.Methods: A Web-based survey was disseminated to US medical students. Frequencies, proportions, and odds ratios were calculated to assess perceptions and self-described likelihood to respond to disaster and public health scenarios.Results: Of the 523 medical students who completed the survey, 17.2% believed that they were receiving adequate education and training for natural disasters, 26.2% for pandemic influenza, and 13.4% for radiological events, respectively; 51.6% felt they were sufficiently skilled to respond to a natural disaster, 53.2% for pandemic influenza, and 30.8% for radiological events. Although 96.0% reported willingness to respond to a natural disaster, 93.7% for pandemic influenza, and 83.8% for a radiological event, the majority of respondents did not know to whom they would report in such an event.Conclusions: Despite future physicians' willingness to respond, education and training in disaster medicine and public health preparedness offered in US medical schools is inadequate. Equipping medical students with knowledge, skills, direction, and linkages with volunteer organizations may help build a capable and sustainable auxiliary workforce. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2009;3:210–216)


2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 4165-4169 ◽  

The application of X-Band Polarimetric radar (X-Band MP radar) is very effective in disaster risk management which can help professional, researchers, private and government agencies to take actions for rainfall-related disaster preparedness and prevention activities. This needs dissemination of rainfall radar data and information for developing the methods, models and applications. With the emerging Internet technologies, many web-based systems are used as a fundamental platform for gathering, processing and delivering the data or information in many fields. This paper is aimed to recognize the requirements of a web-based framework for rainfall estimation system by using X-Band MP radar. Through the systematic approach, three requirements for the proposed architecture are identified, which are the source of rainfall data, the technology involved in the system development and the features of web-based system. Those requirements are represent the whole concept of X-Band MP radar system for Malaysia. Based on the outcome of this study, a web-based system framework is proposed and the prototype of the proposed system will be developed.


Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 246
Author(s):  
Sarah E. DeYoung ◽  
Ashley K. Farmer ◽  
Zoe Callaro ◽  
Shelby Naar

Little is known about the ways in which puppy raisers engage in disaster preparedness for their puppies (or “guide dogs in training”). The aim of this research is to understand disaster preparedness among service dog puppy raisers. A web-based survey was distributed to people raising puppies in a service dog training program (n = 53 complete survey responses). Questions in the survey included items about disaster preparedness and plans for canine safety in hazards events. Out of those who said they had an evacuation plan for their puppy in training, 59% stated they would put the dog in their vehicles for evacuating to safety in the event of a hurricane or other disaster. The odds of first-time puppy raisers who considered evacuation for Hurricane Irma in 2017 was 15.3 times the odds of repeat raisers. Over half the raisers reported that they did not have a disaster kit. Additionally, 82% of respondents indicated that having a service puppy in training makes them feel safer. These results can be used as a foundation for service dog organizations in disaster preparedness among their puppy raiser volunteers and in designing recruitment messages for new volunteers.


2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 230-233 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian Gillett ◽  
Mark Silverberg ◽  
Patricia Roblin ◽  
John Adelaine ◽  
Walter Valesky ◽  
...  

AbstractIntroduction: Emergency preparedness experts generally are based at academic or governmental institutions. A mechanism for experts to remotely facilitate a distant hospital’s disaster readiness is lacking.Objective: The objective of this study was to develop and examine the feasibility of an Internet-based software tool to assess disaster preparedness for remote hospitals using a long-distance, virtual, tabletop drill.Methods: An Internet-based system that remotely acquires information and analyzes disaster preparedness for hospitals at a distance in a virtual, tabletop drill model was piloted. Nine hospitals in Cape Town, South Africa designated as receiving institutions for the 2010 FIFA World Cup Games and its organizers, utilized the system over a 10-week period. At one-week intervals, the system e-mailed each hospital’s leadership a description of a stadium disaster and instructed them to login to the system and answer questions relating to their hospital’s state of readiness. A total of 169 questions were posed relating to operational and surge capacities, communication, equipment, major incident planning, public relations, staff safety, hospital supplies, and security in each hospital. The system was used to analyze answers and generate a real-time grid that reflectied readiness as a percent for each hospital in each of the above categories. It also created individualized recommendations of how to improve preparedness for each hospital. To assess feasibility of such a system, the end users’ compliance and response times were examined.Results: Overall, compliance was excellent with an aggregate response rate of 98%. The mean response interval, defined as the time elapsed between sending a stimuli and receiving a response, was eight days (95% CI = 8–9 days).Conclusions: A web-based data acquisition system using a virtual, tabletop drill to remotely facilitate assessment of disaster preparedness is efficient and feasible. Weekly reinforcement for disaster preparedness resulted in strong compliance.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 3342
Author(s):  
Ahmed Al-Wathinani ◽  
Attila J. Hertelendy ◽  
Abdulmajeed M. Mobrad ◽  
Riyadh Alhazmi ◽  
Saqer Althunayyan ◽  
...  

The Hajj is a recurring annual mass gathering event with over three million attendants taking place at the same site for six days. During such events, major incidents and disasters can occur. It is crucial that Emergency Medical Services providers are sufficiently trained regarding disaster preparedness to respond appropriately. EMS-providers of the Saudi Red Crescent Authority who worked during the Hajj in 2016 were asked to complete a web-based survey, utilizing predetermined responses with 5-point Likert scale responses. Seven hundred respondents identified real disasters as the most common source of information about disaster preparedness and also indicated that a disaster management course was the most desired course for improving knowledge. The study has also highlighted a list of Life Support Courses providers feel should be offered as part of a disaster response training package. These findings highlight the importance of continuing education, which may be obtained through short, focused courses, or for small numbers of specialists through higher educational degrees, such as masters or doctorates. This study also examines the importance of media and its impact on increasing knowledge and awareness for EMS-providers. Consideration should be given to pairing novice providers with experienced personnel to disseminate knowledge and practical experience during Hajj missions. Simulated disaster drilling should be considered to introduce novices to the stress of mass casualty disaster response.


2002 ◽  
Vol 17 (S2) ◽  
pp. S25
Author(s):  
Rannveig Bremer Fjær ◽  
Knut Ole Sundnes

In frequent humanitarian emergencies during the last decades, military forces increasingly have been engaged through provision of equipment and humanitarian assistance, and through peace-support operations. The objective of this study was to evaluate how military resources could be used in disaster preparedness as well as in disaster management and relief.


1998 ◽  
Vol 62 (9) ◽  
pp. 671-674
Author(s):  
JF Chaves ◽  
JA Chaves ◽  
MS Lantz
Keyword(s):  

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document