Responding to natural disasters vs. disease outbreaks: Do emergency medical service providers have different views?

Introduction: Our planet has been experiencing a huge burden of natural disasters and public health emergencies in the last three decades. Emergency medical service providers are expected to be in the frontlines during such emergencies. Yet, this system is badly understudied when it comes to its roles and performance during disasters and public health emergencies.

"Just-in-Time" Personal Preparedness: Downloads and Usage Patterns of the American Red Cross Hurricane Application During Hurricane Sandy.

Objective: Personal preparedness is a core activity but has been found to be frequently inadequate. Smart phone applications have many uses for the public, including preparedness. In 2012 the American Red Cross began releasing "disaster" apps for family preparedness and recovery.

Comparison of prediction models for use of medical resources at urban auto-racing events.

Unlabelled: INTRODUCTION Predicting the number of patient encounters and transports during mass gatherings can be challenging. The nature of these events necessitates that proper resources are available to meet the needs that arise. Several prediction models to assist event planners in forecasting medical utilization have been proposed in the literature.

A poor association between out-of-hospital cardiac arrest location and public automated external defibrillator placement.

Introduction: Much attention has been given to the strategic placement of automated external defibrillators (AEDs). The purpose of this study was to examine the correlation of strategically placed AEDs and the actual location of cardiac arrests.

Methods: A retrospective review of data maintained by the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS), specifically, the Maryland Cardiac Arrest Database and the Maryland AED Registry, was conducted.

Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus nasal colonization prevalence among Emergency Medical Services personnel.

Introduction: The prevalence of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) nasal colonization among Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel is not well studied. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus colonization can be a health hazard for both EMS personnel and patients. The aim of this study was to quantify the prevalence of MRSA colonization among EMS personnel.

A public health enforcement initiative to combat underage drinking using Emergency Medical Services call data.

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine whether Emergency Medical Services (EMS) records can identify bars that serve a disproportionate number of minors, and if government officials will use this data to direct underage drinker enforcement efforts.

Methods: Emergency Medical Services call logs to all bars in the study area were cross-referenced with a local hospital's records. The records of patients with alcohol-related complaints were analyzed.

Impact on hospital functions following the 2010 Chilean earthquake.

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the impact of the 2010 Chilean earthquake on hospital functions and services. Hospitals functioning in a post-disaster environment must provide emergency medical care related to the event, in addition to providing standard community health services. This study focused on damage to both structural and nonstructural components, as well as to utility services.

Bacterial pathogens in ambulances: results of unannounced sample collection.

Unlabelled: The concern that the health care environment may harbor a substantial reservoir of infectious agents has been vigorously examined by microbiology and infectious disease experts. Although universal precautions and disposable equipment reduces risks to patients and providers, the ambulance remains vulnerable to bacterial contamination from biological secretions. Additionally, the nature of emergency medical services creates pressures on prehospital care providers.

Epidemic and bioterrorism preparation among emergency medical services systems.

Introduction: The purpose of this research was to determine the preparedness of emergency medical services (EMS) agencies in one US state to cope with a massive epidemic event.

Methods: Data were collected primarily through telephone interviews with EMS officials throughout the State. To provide a comparison, nine out-of-state emergency services agencies were invited to participate.

Does advanced life support provide benefits to patients?: A literature review.

Introduction: Emergency medical services have invested substantial resources to establish advanced life support (ALS) programs. However, it is unclear whether ALS care provides better outcomes to patients compared to basic life support (BLS) care.

Objective: To evaluate the current evidence regarding the benefits of ALS.

Evidence of the effectiveness of health sector preparedness in disaster response: the example of four earthquakes.

In this article, evidence that health sector preparedness improves response performance in disasters was examined. Case fatality and survival data were compared for four earthquakes, in relation to health sector emergency preparedness levels. Vast differences in performance were found.

Vaccine administration by paramedics: a model for bioterrorism and disaster response preparation.

The events of 11 September 2001 have had a profound effect on disaster planning efforts in the United States. This is true especially in the area of bioterrorism. One of the major tenets of bioterrorism response is the vaccination of at-risk populations.

Ambulance snatching: how vulnerable are we?

Out of concern that ambulances might be targeted for hijack for terrorism purposes, we observed security-related behaviors of a cross-section of ambulance crews and their vehicles in Emergency Department ambulance bays. We sent observers to a convenience sample of trauma and suburban Emergency Department ambulance entrances in several states. We observed 151 total ambulance arrivals.