Essay Sample on HME509

Introduction

An emergency can happen to everyone without a notice. The government has therefore set aside a department that deals with such. Emergencies may range from natural disasters such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and chemical explosives to bioterrorism among others. How well they approach such incidences determines the number of lives to be saved. In such cases, Emergency Medical Service personnel are always the first to be contacted in order to save the situation.

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Bioterrorism/use of biological weapons existed since the 6th century and it continues up to date. It is done with an intention of causing death to the public population or with an aim of manipulating a government system. The emergency response departments have to act in coordination with health professionals. Decisions made in such situations need to be quick and accurate. Public health epidemiologists play a critical role in determining the disease, its magnitude and the proper measure to be taken (Das &Kataria, 2011)

ICS is a system which effectively controls and manages a situation at an emergency incident. In a scenario with the cases given, OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Act) recommends the first responders to be the temporary decision makers. EMS personnel can handle the situation while waiting for public health official/EMS chief/ MD. OSHA makes sure the EMS personnel are geared with the right equipment and training. They can use their professional judgment in dealing with such situations. However, it is important for a public health official/ EMS Chief/MD to be the one to make any critical decision rather than a police or a fire unit. This is because these incidents are delicate and contamination is avoided at all costs. Therefore, the extent of the situation needs to be addressed by an expert. It is also required for each public health professional to be accompanied by one or two assistants for a fast and smooth running of the medical process (Madsen, Traub, & Burns, 2017).

During a bioterrorist incident, the first person to respond to the issue should be the physicians, nurses, and public health professionals in the local department. The approach that health personnel use in a bioterrorist incident is very different from that of a natural or a chemical weapon incident. Although during a bioterrorist attack, the symptoms are gradual, a non-medical personnel have a significant role to play. For example, the police department should be there to create order such as quarantine if need be. Similarly, due to a large number of individuals visiting the hospitals, they can be used to enhance security in the health facility. Additionally, long before the health providers arrive at the scene the very first people to get news on such incidences are the non-medical personnel. Hence, they can make a decision on how to contain the situation to prevent spreading until a qualified health personnel arrives. (Bachmann et al., 2015).

Conclusion

In conclusion, health and emergency services departments need to have a proper infrastructure in combating emergencies. Also, the non-medical personnel responsible for handling emergencies should be given the all equipment necessary to make sure their safety is guaranteed. Further, they need to be trained on how to approach every situation. This will make sure the judgment they make during such an occurrence will not risk anyone's life. Lastly, the local health centers require up to date and standard equipment for such emergencies. This will prevent overcrowding of the few hospitals that are equipped.

References

Bachmann, D. J., Jamison, N. K., Martin, A., Delgado, J., & Kman, N. E. (2015). Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Response: There's an App for that. Prehospital and disaster medicine.

Das S, Kataria V.K. (2011) Bioterrorism: A Public Health Perspective. Med J Armed Forces India.

Madsen, J. M., Traub, S. J., & Burns, M. M. (2017). Chemical Terrorism: Rapid Recognition and Initial Medical Management. Waltham, MA: UpToDate.