...Community Emergency Preparedness and Response Paper In this paper the subjects to discuss are newspaper articles and scenarios given in season two, episode five of Pearson Health Science Neighborhood in the course materials section of University of Phoenix student Website. A fire began in the Neighborhood community and the residents developed respiratory problems related to the smoke. The fire is not contained even after five days (Pearson health science, 2011). The community needs an emergency preparedness and response plan. Local, state, and national public health agencies such as the Red Cross, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and local and state EMS should have participated in this emergency situation. Summary of event Neighborhood is a community located near a forest and along the bank of the river with a population of 64, 200 residents. A forest fire has been raging for five days and is nearing the town of Neighborhood, destroying numerous acres of land. Firefighters are battling to obtain control of the forest fire, whereas the health care workers are battling to keep the patients breathing. The seniors are coming to the senior center clinic with breathing problems, and the hospital is overcrowded with patients with breathing issues. The hospital has shortage of staffs and the quality of care is law. The city officials are urging the citizens to stay indoors and not to go out unless it is necessary because winds are blowing the smoke toward the town...
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...Community Emergency Preparedness and Response Paper NUR/408 April 2, 2012 University of Phoenix Community Emergency Preparedness and Response Paper Firefighters cannot contain a forest fire that has been blazing for five days. The risk of the fire is not life-threaten but citizens are encouraged to remain indoors unless necessary to leave home because of the smoky winds. The smoke from the fire is affecting many of the residents in the community, especially those with preexisting lung diseases. The local hospital is full and the emergency room is over crowed. Patients are in need of beds in the hospital. The entire staff is stressed and pressed to discharge patients quickly to make room for patients holding in the emergency room. In addition nursing staff is required to work overtime to meet the needs of the community. Next, the Neighborhood Senior Nursing Clinic has seen more seniors than usual this week because of the smoky winds. Many of the seniors have needed to use their oxygen more often than usual this week. The seniors have been advised by the nurse Karen at the Neighborhood Senior Nursing Clinic to stay indoors to avoid respiratory irritants. Unfortunately, there had been an increase in seniors coming to the clinic in the past couple of years related to lack of extracurricular activities available to seniors in the community. After that a second grade student at the neighborhood school was sent to the school nurse because of difficulty breathing. She was noted...
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...Emergency preparedness is the ability of individuals, organizations, and communities to respond to public health emergencies, such as natural disasters, bad weather, bioterrorism, outbreak of diseases, accidents casualties, and chemical or radiation emergencies. The most indigenous role of the federal, state or local government is to protect and prevent citizens from injury or potential harm, which involves helping people to prepare and respond to emergency situation, including people with disabilities. To plan and respond to community emergency require involvement of everybody in the community, including people with disabilities in identifying needs in evaluating operational management. The issues identified with people of disabilities include notification, evacuation, transportation, sheltering, access to information, medication, refrigeration, backup power, and to mobility devices or service animals en route to shelter. Emergency preparedness is pertinent for every community because it could be a life-threatening situation. Summary of the event that took place at the Neighborhood community as read under the course materials section in the newspaper articles and scenarios in the Pearson Health Science Neighborhood in season two, episode five from University of Phoenix student website. The Neighborhood has a population of 64,200, localized close to a forest and beside the bank of a river. The community has been experiencing fire out-break for five days and had caused irreversible...
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...Community Preparedness and Response NUR/408 Community Preparedness and Response This paper discusses The Neighborhood - Pearson Health Science season two, episode five at the University of Phoenix student website. The examination of the actions of health care workers in response to the health concerns of key characters will be highlighted including the community hospital, senior center, school, and the Bley household. The role of the preparedness of the public health agencies, who initially responded to the community emergency, and who should monitor the effects on the community health will be assessed. Identification of how public health care teams can enhance the citizens’ preparedness for emergencies will be explored as well as suggestions to improve personal preparedness in a similar community emergent event. The Neighborhood The Neighborhood has a population of 64,200 including all ages from zero to over 90 years-old. An uncontrolled forest fire has been burning for over five days. As firefighters battle the fire, city officials state the community is not in any danger. However, the thick smoke is covering the town. The healthcare workers are working hard to treat people of the community with chronic lung problems (Pearson Health Science, 2009). Hospital The local hospital is a 362 inpatient bed facility (Pearson Health Science, 2009). The raging fire has the emergency room and local offices seeing an increase of patients suffering breathing problems...
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...Community Emergency Preparedness and Response Paper Kelly M. White NUR/408 August 10, 2015 Amy Reagan Community Emergency Preparedness and Response The terms “preparedness” and“readiness” can be used interchangeably. Preparedness is defined as the existence of plans, procedures, policies, training, and equipment necessary at the Local, State, and Federal level to maximize the ability to prevent, respond to, and recover from major events (Katz, 2013). Emergency preparedness is essential in assisting with disasters and emergent issues that happen around the world. Media coverage of disasters across the globe occur in real time with an intensity level that makes one believe that natural or manmade disasters happen more frequently. Disasters, in all forms, is a part of life and how we deal with these events depends on how well we are prepared. It is of the utmost importance that all of the population be aware of what to do and who to contact when an event is about to happen or while it is unfolding. A community’s ability to recover and be self-reliant after a disaster also depends on how well the community prepares for and responds to these emergencies. This paper will discuss and examine how the resources and people of the chosen neighborhood responded to the emergency at hand, a forest fire ravaging for more than 5 days (Neighborhood 2.0-News). The Neighborhood There is an uncontained forest fire that has been burning for more than 5 days in a forest west of the Neighborhood...
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...Neighborhood Community Emergency NUR408 July 8, 2013 Community Emergency Preparedness and Response Paper Emergency preparedness is an important procedure that is needed to protecting or limiting the amount of injuries or death caused by either natural or manmade disasters of citizens in any community. The purpose of this paper is to show the importance of community emergency preparedness, and events that can occur if there is a lack of preparedness and planning. This paper will demonstrate and summarize the actions of health care workers, steps taken, and needed to reduce risk factors, the role of public health agencies, and the community’s involvement to assist with their own safety. For example, did city officials prepare the residents of the neighborhood adequately? What is required to handle a wildfire emergency? What other public health agencies could have assisted with this emergency and how would this affect the outcome of the wildfire at the neighborhood forest? Wikipedia defines (“Emergency,” n.d.) as, “A situation that poses an immediate risk to health, life, property or environment.” Emergency preparedness involves interventions to prevent situations from becoming worse. Identifying potential risk factors is the key for communities to devise an effective emergency plan to decrease the potential for increase injuries or death. How a community recovers from a disaster is just as important as the preparations taken to minimize...
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...Running Head: Emergency Preparedness and Response Emergency Preparedness and Response Michelle Gage NURS408 Epidemiology: Global and Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Emergency preparedness is a key factor in helping with disasters and emergent issues that happen around the world. Emergency preparedness requires attention not just to specific types of hazards but also to steps that increase preparedness for any type of hazard (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2010). It is important that all the population be aware of what to do in an event or who to contact if they notice a particular event about to happen or happening. In the pre-event preparation stage, much training, information, and safety are critical to minimizing deaths and injuries that occur from emergencies. One type of situation that could occur and cause chaos is a neighborhood forest fire. Numerous people could respond to this event to aid in the public’s needs and to help prevent further complications or exacerbations of medical problems. In the Neighborhood News it was a focus on the forest fire that was still occurring near this town. Kate, RN was discussing how she is overwhelmed with the amount of admissions that they have on the medical unit. This was caused from the exacerbation of emphysema and asthma because of the neighborhood forest fires. The entire unit of staff were feeling tired and morale was decreased lately. Pat, nurse manager for the medical...
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...Community Emergency Preparedness & Response Paper NUR 408 March 25, 2013 Community Emergency Preparedness & Response Paper Media coverage of disasters across the globe come in real time and with intensity that one would believe that natural or manmade disasters happens more frequently, affecting thousands if not millions of lives. People prepare for the worst such as buying premium insurance to decrease the anxiety but still expecting the best. Disasters in all form is part of life and how we deal with these events depend on how prepared we are. A communities ability to get back on its feet and be self reliant after a disaster will be decided by how well the community prepare and responds to these emergencies. In the neighborhood we will discuss and examine how the resources and people responded to the emergency- a forest fire which have raged on for the last 5 days. We will discuss the hospital, senior center, school and the Bley household and how the emergency affected their life. We will then identify the types of public health agencies such as the local, state, and national that could be called upon to respond to emergencies. The Neighborhood The town is situated along a river and located west of a forest with a population of 64,200 of which one-third are elderly. A wildfire have started in the forest and has spread and destroyed several acres of land. The fire has been raging on for the last five days that has the community mobilizing its resources to assist...
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...or injuries surpass resource capabilities of a community or medical facility (Ignatavicius & Workman, 2010). Disaster preparedness is a process of ensuring that an organization has complied with the preventive measures and is in a state of readiness to contain the effects of a predicted disastrous event to minimize loss of life, injury, and damage to property. Disaster preparedness can also provide rescue, relief, rehabilitation, and other services in the aftermath of the disaster, as well as have the capability and resources to continue to sustain its essential functions without being overwhelmed by the demand placed on them. The American Nursing Association is helping to ensure that disaster preparedness and response is robust in this country to be personally and professionally prepared for a disaster. Being in a prepared profession can help cope and help the communities recover from disaster better, faster and stronger (Brewer, 2010). According to the Maricopa Integrated Health System (MIHS) at Maricopa Medical Center, they have a specialized disaster preparedness plan to fit their current top three hazards. Maricopa Medical Center conducts a Hazard Vulnerability Assessment (HVA) annually. The current top three hazards K.F., Manager of Fire Safety and Disaster Preparedness, at Maricopa Medical Center has identified include: Mass Causality Incidents (trauma, burns, pandemic, etc.), Small Casualty Hazardous Materials Response (less than five patients), and Severe Weather...
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...CAPABILITY OF EMERGENCY SERVICES TO REACT TO DISATERS Devon Clemons American Military University 12 February 2015 Abstract Every day throughout United States, thousands of emergency personnel respond to various types emergencies both natural and man-made. Such disasters pose significant problems for emergency managers and emergency response personnel as well as the medical facilities that treat them. At a moment’s notice, medical facilities can become overwhelmed after a disaster from people seeking medical attention. The key to success is information sharing and management among these responding organizations during and after a disaster. The idea of sharing information does not occur overnight, the plan should be implemented before any disaster occurs. Many of the issues responders face range from a lack of preparedness and training of emergency responders to a lack of communication. Disaster readiness remains uneven across the United States especially in small cities or rural areas and without significant disaster preparedness many emergency responders or emergency facilities such as hospitals or clinics remain unprepared for natural disasters. As a result, many facilities may be unprepared to accept and care for an influx of patients as a result of a terrorist attacks, chemical spills, and natural disasters. This paper will explore problems emergency responders may face during disasters due to a lack readiness and preparedness. In addition, this paper...
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...Community Emergency Preparedness and Response Nur 408 March 5, 2012 Sandi Wheeler Community Emergency Preparedness and Response A disaster, whether natural or man-made, generates several emotions, illnesses, and losses. When a community is confronted with a disaster, such as a forest fire, they rely on an emergency preparedness plan for structure and guidance. With this emergency situation, the community is facing the potential of an out-of-control forest fire. Officials contend the fire is currently contained; however, winds are steadily increasing putting this community at risk for disaster. This fire has already burned numerous acres and is on the fifth day of burning (The Neighborhood News, n.d.). The air in the community is now thick with pollutants and smoke which is affecting many individual’s respiratory track. The Neighborhood News, a local newspaper, recommends individuals remain indoors until conditions improve in the community (Neighborhood News, n.d.). The paper also states community members will be given notice if the burn pattern of the fire changes with the winds (Neighborhood News, n.d.). Community emergency preparedness is essential for dynamic responses in life threatening situations. One the front line of defense is the public health department for community disasters (Stanhope & Lancaster, 2008). “The Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002 addressed the need to enhance public health and health care readiness...
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...Contingency Plan Significance for Disaster Preparedness Tanya Vadnais Southern New Hampshire University Contingency Plan Significance for Disaster Preparedness We never know when disaster will strike in the healthcare profession, and therefore, disaster preparedness needs to be in the forefront of our minds. The most important part of disaster preparedness is planning in advance, and contingency plans are the most reliable way of accomplishing this. Contingency plans can be defined as “planning activities related to a site-specific threat that may occur at any time” (Vennema, 2007, p. 138). Different disaster planning and contingency plans will be needed depending on geographical location such as hurricanes in the southern region, earthquakes in the western region, and severe snow storms in the northern region. In the case study reviewed, a nurse who has just arrived for a 12 hours shift was concerned about the forecasted blizzard that was expected to bring two to three feet of snow in the next twelve to eighteen hours. Other nurses begin to get anxious and ask about contacting the nursing supervisor to seek strategies to ensure adequate staffing for patient care in the morning. Leadership within the healthcare facility should be cognoscente of the impending blizzard, and a contingency plan should be utilized to guarantee harm reduction during this internal/external disaster threat. Careful organization of contingency plans is necessary if those involved in a disaster are...
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...Emergency Preparedness and Response Esteban Guaderrama NUR Emergency Preparedness and Response Emergency preparedness is a key factor in helping with disasters and emergent issues that happen around the world. Emergency preparedness requires attention not just to specific types of hazards but also to steps that increase preparedness for any type of hazard (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2010). It is important that all the population be aware of what to do in an event or who to contact if they notice a particular event about to happen or happening. In the pre-event preparation stage, much training, information, and safety are critical to minimizing deaths and injuries that occur from emergencies. One type of situation that could occur and cause chaos is a neighborhood forest fire. Numerous people could respond to this event to aid in the public’s needs and to help prevent further complications or exacerbations of medical problems. In the Neighborhood News it was a focus on the forest fire that was still occurring near this town. Kate, RN was discussing how she is overwhelmed with the amount of admissions that they have on the medical unit. This was caused from the exacerbation of emphysema and asthma because of the neighborhood forest fires. The entire unit of staff were feeling tired and morale was decreased lately. Pat, nurse manager for the medical unit also commented on how the staff morale was...
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...Emergency Preparedness and Response Joy Carr NUR/408 January 10, 2012 Sandi Wheeler, R.N., MSN Emergency Preparedness and Response Public emergency preparedness and response is the ability of the public health and health care systems, communities, and individuals, to prevent, protect against, quickly respond to, and recover from emergencies, particularly those whose scale, timing, or unpredictability threatens to overwhelm routine capabilities. Preparedness involves a continuous process of planning and implementation that relies on measuring performance and taking corrective action. There are many different public agencies, from local to national, that are dedicated and devoted to this. The Neighborhood is a community that is nestled near Neighborhood River and along the Neighborhood Forest, with a population of 64,200. They are in the presence of a wildfire that is raging just west of the town border. The fire has been burning out of control for five days with the local fire departments battling to contain it. Initially, it was believed to be easily containable but with the early advent of the windy season, the fire continues to burn out of control. Community officials urge citizens that they are not in any immediate danger for evacuation but will issue alerts if they feel the fires may shift course towards the community. Public health officials are urging residents, especially those with chronic heart and lung disease, to remain inside unless absolutely...
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...Community Health Nursing HAT: Task 1 Darcie M. Walker January 12, 2012 A1-A2: Community Assessment and Data Interpretation The state of Indiana can show you many different areas of living along with multiple cultures that make the great state what it is. Living in a small town for many years, and relocating to a larger city has been extremely eye opening to see all of those cultures in action. POPULATION ECONOMIC STATUS ASSESSMENT: From statistical findings from the Census Bureau, Marion County has a population of 705,376 people aged 16 years old and over. Of that number of individuals, 474,362 are in the work force, which leaves the number of unemployed individuals at 8.1%. Some of the occupations held are as follows: service occupations, managements, sale, business, construction, health care, retail, transportation, finance, insurance, and many more Out of 358,552 households in Marion County, the income and benefits in adjusted dollars are as follows: * Less than 10,000 34,829 * 10,000-14,999 23,694 * 15,000-24,999 51,518 * 25,000-34,999 47,791 * 35,000-49,999 55,856 * 50,000-74,999 62,475 * 75,000-99,999 37,400 * 100,000-149,999 29,927 * 150,000-199,999 8,144 * 200,000 or more 6,918 The median household income is $39,631, and the mean household income is $54,764. The families receiving cash public assistance are 11,968, and the families with food stamps are 59,600 in...
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