MRC

what is an emergency?

-managed with local resources

-requires quick responses

what is a disaster?

-overwhelms local resources

-requires outside help

-large scope, high morbidity

what are types of disasters?

-natural (hurricane, earthquake)

-pandemic

-technological (power plants, chemical spills)

-human made (accidents)

-terrorist

-environmental

what is the medical reserve corps?

a national volunteer organization under the US department of health and human services

what is the purpose of MEC?

to support community public health efforts before, during and after disasters?

who volunteers in MRC?

nurses, EMTs, doctors, pharmacists, public health practitioners, non-medical volunteers (for logistics)

what are MRC roles during a disaster?

-assist in mass vaccination clinicals

-staff shelters

-provide first aid

-support disease surveillance

-help with patient tracking

-assist in mental health support

-augment local healthcare when overwhelmed

what is Community emergency response team (CERT)

a community based disaster response group trained by FEMA-> certification teaches communities how to be self sufficient for 72 hours

what is the purpose of CERT?

to prepare civilians to response when first responders are delayed

who joins CERT?

regular civilians- not necessarily healthcare workers

what does CERT training include?

-light search and rescue

-small fire suppression

-disaster medical care (very basic)

-organizing spontaneous volunteers

-triage basics

-disaster psychology

what do CERT members do in a disaster?

-conduct neighbor checks

-help with initial triage until EMS arrives

-provide scene organization

-assist emergency operations centers

-support shelters

-maintain communication within the community

what is START triage?

Simple Triage and Rapid Treatment

what does red mean in START triage

immediate treatment- airway, shock, severe bleeding

what does yellow mean in START triage?

delayed- stable but serious

what does green mean in START triage?

minor- walking wounded

what does black mean in START triage?

expectant/deceased- no respirations after airway repositioning

what is the disaster management continuum?

a cyclical process aimed at minimizing the impact of disasters

-includes mitigation, preparedness, response, recovery and evaluation

what is the mitigation phase?

This phase consists of actions or measures to prevent the occurrence of a disaster or reduce the damaging effects of one.

It involves a determination of community hazards and risks for the occurrence of a disaster.

-levees, stronger buildings and removing hazards

what is the preparedness phase?

this phase involves the development of disaster plans, drills, PPE and vulnerability assessments

what is the response phase?

triage, PODs and incident control

what is the recovery phase?

rebuilding infrastructure and services

what is the evaluation phase?

after-action reporting, "what went well? what didnt?"

what is NIMS?

National Incident Management System

-for coordinating federal, state and local responses

what is NICS

the NIMS integration center

-provides strategic oversight over NIMS including: evaluating and refining NIMS, capturing lessons learned, developing national standards (training, equipment and resource typing), credentialing/qualification standards for personnel

what are PODs?

-point of distribution

-used to distribute vaccines, antibiotics and supplies

-nurses handle flow, documentation and communication

what are included in basic emergency supplies?

-water: 1 gallon per day per person- 3 days supply minimum

-food: 3 days of non-perishable foods

-tools and safety: flashlight, extra batteries, manual can opener, multi-tool, whistle

-health and medical items: first aid kit, 7-14 days of prescriptions, OTC meds (pain, antidiarrheals, allergy meds), glasses/contacts, copies of prescriptions

-communication: battery powered or hand crank radio, phone charger and power bank, emergency contact list

-sanitation: moist towelettes, trash bags, plastic ties, hand sanitizer, hygiene items

-clothing/comfort: warm clothes, sturdy shoes, blanket

-important documents: ID, insurance card, medical history list, evacuation route, family emergency plan

level A PPE (highest)

-used when: agent is unknown, high risk of inhalation and skin exposure, highly toxic chemicals

-contains: fully encapsulated suit, chem-resistant gloves and boots, SCBA

level B PPE- high respiratory protection?

-used when: high inhalation risk, lower skin risk, known chemical but still dangerous

-contains: SCBA, splash protection suit, gloves/boots (not fully encapsulated)

level C PPE- standard

-used for: known agents with low inhalation risk

-contains: N95, splash suit, gloves/boots

-often used for: biological agents, pandemic influenza, hospital HAZMAT responses

level D PPE

-used for: no respiratory hazards, minimal

-contains: gloves, boots, standard precautions, possibly gown/mask

what a category A bioterrorism agents? (most dangerous)

-easily disseminated or transmitted person to person

-high mortality (deadly)

-cause major public panic and social disruption

-requires special public health preparedness

what are examples of category A agents?

-anthrax (bacillus anthracis)

-botulism (clostridium botulinum toxin)

-plague (Yersinia pestis)

-smallpox (variola major)

-tularemia (francisella tularensis)

-viral hemorrhagic fevers

what is category B bioterrorism?

-moderately easy to disseminate

-cause moderate illness, low death rates

-require enhanced disease surveillance

-public health systems can usually manage outbreaks

Category B agents?

-brucellosis (brucella species)

-food safety treats (salmonella, E coli, shigella)

-glanders (burkholderia mallei)

-melioidosis (Burkholderia pseudomallei)

-psittacosis (chlamydis psittaci)

-Q fever (coxiella burnetii)

-pyphus fever (rickettsia prowazekii)

-water safety threats

-staphylococcal enterotoxin B

category C bioterrorism?

-emerging infectious diseases

-could be engineered fro mass dissemination

-high availability and easy production

-possible high mortality if modified

-pose future bioterrorism risk

category C agents?

-nipah virus

-hantavirus

-multidrug resistant TB

-yellow fever

-SARS, MERS and other coronaviruses

-Zika

what is invacuation?

moving people within a facility to a safer area

what is evacuation?

used when explosion/fire risk or long duration hazards

what is shelter in place?

stay inside for short events like chemical plumes

key points of blast injuries?

-more severe in confined spaces

-victims often temporarily deaf

-high risk of blunt trauma

-open wounds-> infection risk

- do not delay lifesaving care because of fear of "dirty bomb"

immediate symptoms of chemical disasters?

-burns

-breathing difficulty

-seizures

-paralysis

no incubation period (unlike biologic agents