Field Of Emergency Preparedness Research Articles

The Missing Piece to the Crisis Management Puzzle: Making the Best Decision

The field of emergency preparedness and response has been driven recently by training efforts utilizing software based technology to mitigate and respond to potential and/or actual crisis situations. Yet, despite this effort, numerous research findings highlight the failures of both disaster and emergency agencies as well as private sector organizations in dealing with both major disruptions as well as local emergencies. We argue that a critical missing piece to rectify such failures, particularly in the training process, can be attained by refocusing on organizational processes toward preparedness/response with greater attention being paid to the context of how decisions are actually made and who makes them. This critical missing element in preparation/response will be addressed here by laying out how data analytics associated with real-time behavioral decisions during an earthquake simulation can be utilized in optimizing the decision making process. This will provide a window into why protocols are not adhered to or how informal social networks within organizations are critical elements affecting decisions. To delve into this organizational reality, an emphasis will be put on not only the human factor in decision making but the organizational context within which interaction among and between employees takes place that affect how and what decisions are made.

Quality of life and emergency preparedness of MHO staff: role of psychological capital and perceived organizational support

PurposeEnhancing the initiative and enthusiasm of emergency preparedness behaviors among Medical and Health Organization (MHO) staff is an effective measure to prevent and reduce losses from emergencies. In this study, emergency preparedness behavioral intentions were divided into noncooperative behavioral intentions (EPNCBI) and cooperative behavioral intentions (EPCBI) to discuss the impact brought by quality of life (QoL). The mediating effects of psychological capital (PsyCap) and perceived organizational support (POS) were also considered.Design/methodology/approachA web-based questionnaire was used for MHO staff in China, and a structural equation analysis of the data collected from 243 participants was conducted to test the hypotheses.FindingsThe empirical results reveal that: (1) QoL had a positive effect on EPNCBI, PsyCap and POS; (2) PsyCap had a positive effect on EPNCBI and EPCBI; (3) POS had a positive effect on PsyCap and EPCBI; (4) PsyCap mediated the relationship between QoL and EPNCBI, and the relationship between POS and EPNCBI; (5) PsyCap and POS mediated the relationship between QoL and EPCBI.Practical implicationsImproving MHO staff’s QoL is an effective way to enhance positive behavioral outcomes. Furthermore, these findings could provide managers with valuable insight focusing their limited resources on enhancing the emergency preparedness of MHO staff by reinforcing the level of PsyCap and POS.Originality/valueThis study provides important updated considerations for the application of positive psychology in the field of emergency preparedness.

Improving Community Resilience through Disaster Simulation: How Simulation-based Education Augments Emergency Management Exercises

Abstract Increased interest among leaders and practitioners in the field of emergency preparedness in the concept of whole community resilience can create new ways reaching the community. This paper explores one approach to community-engaged preparedness education. By drawing on the fields of emergency management and simulation–based instructional design, we describe an approach to preparedness events with broad community participation. We describe the education methodology used to plan the event and the core concepts related to simulation-based education. We offer key principles for event planners to engage a diverse group of participants ranging from youth, pre-professional healthcare students, practicing healthcare professionals, and staff from local community organizations. Our experience through seven years of events offers a proof of concept available to local communities; community organizational leaders concerned with the resilience for their own organizations; and academic organizations preparing our citizens to deal with the challenges of living and serving in a world of increasing risk of disaster.

Training courses on emergency preparedness, response and recovery: theory, practice and application of newly developed tools

Education and training remains an essential factor ensuring the creation and maintenance of critical capacities in the field of emergency preparedness, response and recovery. Within the FP7 PREPARE project, several training activities were organised: (i) basic courses for key players, addressing the early and intermediate phases of emergency preparedness and response as well as the long-term management of contaminated territories; and (ii) course on scientific methods and tools for information collection and exchange, namely the PREPARE analytical platform.

Use of After Action Reports (AARs) to Promote Organizational and Systems Learning in Emergency Preparedness

Many public health and healthcare organizations use formal knowledge management practices to identify and disseminate the experiences gained over time. The “lessons-learned” approach is one such example of knowledge management practice applied to the wider concept of organizational learning. In the field of emergency preparedness, the lessons-learned approach stands on the assumption that learning from experience improves practice and minimizes avoidable deaths and negative economic and social consequences of disasters. In this project, we performed a structured review of AARs to analyze how lessons learned from the response to real-incidents may be used to maximize knowledge management and quality improvement practices such as the design of public health emergency preparedness (PHEP) exercises. We chose as a source of data the “Lessons Learned Information Sharing (LLIS.gov)” system, a joined program of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security DHS and FEMA that serves as the national, online repository of lessons learned, best practices, and innovative ideas. We identified recurring challenges reported by various states and local public health agencies in the response to different types of incidents. We also strived to identify the limitations of systematic learning that can be achieved due to existing weaknesses in the way AARs are developed.

Carless and Special Needs Evacuation Planning

For this review, we included a wide range of literature related to emergency preparedness planning and information on the evacuation of carless residents, including minority, low income, elderly, disabled, and residents with limited mobility and health problems. The review includes sources that highlight best practices, and identify areas of weakness within the field of emergency preparedness with respect to the target population of this study. This review discusses different needs for different types of natural and human-induced disasters. It also discusses the role for an integrated, multimodal approach for evacuation planning to assist with evacuating people in the most efficient manner possible. This literature review serves to characterize the current state of thinking and practice on the subject of carless and special needs evacuation planning. The focus of the literature review is on the role of government and public agencies. Overall, the literature related to carless evacuation planning is multidisciplinary and wide ranging. The events surrounding Hurricane Katrina motivated this review of existing research and provided an opportunity to synthesize other earlier related research. The process is important for finding gaps in the contemporary understanding of these issues, especially given more recent evacuations.

(A228) Evaluation of the “Health Legal Preparedness” Model in the Context of Emergency Response in Israel

BackgroundThe “Health Legal Preparedness Model” developed in the US aims to provide better health-related responses in times of emergency. It includes four components: (1) law; (2) competencies; (3) information; and (4) coordination.ObjectiveThe aim of this study is to examine the usefulness of the “Health Legal Preparedness Model” in the present state of affairs in the field of emergency preparedness in Israel.MethodsA qualitative study was conducted. In-depth interviews were performed with leading experts in the past or at present in the Israeli emergency health system.ResultsThe Israeli healthcare system already has elements of the model in place at various levels. The relative perceived importance of each of the four aspects of the model varied between the experts. Of the four components, law and coordination were perceived as a major system concern. Training of specialists in emergency legislation was controversial. In addition, differences were found in the experts' perceptions as of the optimal way to operate the health system during an emergency. Variability also was found in the perception of the private sector growth and in the importance of its incorporation into emergency response plans. The study found that the emergency preparedness system resembles military practices in its conduct. Nevertheless, there is willingness toward mutual emergency systems drills, including aspects of legal preparedness.ConclusionsThe model already is applied partially in the Israeli emergency healthcare system. Results indicate that the Health Legal Preparedness Model might be useful in identifying gaps in emergency response plans. It also crystallized gaps related to optimal operation during emergencies in the country. Therefore, it is important to reach agreement upon solutions that will incorporate a regulatory guideline in order to improve the function of the emergency healthcare system.

Mental Health Concerns

This article is part of a collaborative effort by experts in the field of emergency preparedness to complete an overview begun by the late Michael Shannon, MD, MPH, on the current challenges and future directions in pediatric disaster readiness. This particular article, "Mental Health Concerns," will address some of the unique developmental and psychological vulnerabilities of children as disaster victims (or as disaster witnesses) and strategies for timely identification and intervention for mental health concerns in children.

The Austria-Czech Republic co-operation in the field of radiation-emergency preparedness.

An overview on the long-term information exchange and co-operation between Austria and the Czech Republic in the field of radiation emergency preparedness and evaluation of radiological consequences of NPP accidents is provided. Initiated by the 'Melk Protocol' between the Czech and Austrian governments in December 2000 and its follow-up activities, the information exchange and co-operation between the Czech Republic and Austria in the field of radiation-emergency preparedness have been extended. Among others, a Working Group to compare radiological consequences of Beyond Design Basis Accident with a detailed inter-comparison program concerning atmospheric dispersion models, dose assessment methods and counter- measures was established. Based on this experience, an area for future co-operation in the field of emergency preparedness and information exchange between the Czech Republic and Austria is discussed.

Regional long-term co-operation in the field of nuclear and radiation emergency preparedness.

Emergency preparedness is generally covered by methodical and coordinative activities of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Member States of the IAEA and by the European Commission (EC) in EU Member and EU Accession Countries. However, the regional harmonisation of emergency arrangements is an important trend of emergency preparedness. The present paper gives a couple of illustrative examples for a regional co-operation in the field of emergency preparedness in Central Europe and an overview on international exercises in this region. The penultimate section contains an outlook on future activities regarding regional co-operation in Central Europe. The following topics have been suggested inter alia: the harmonisation of intervention criteria and countermeasures, co-ordination in the field of information of the public, comprehensive bi lateral and multilateral exercises, exchange of experts between the national nuclear emergency centres and inter-comparison calculations of the computer codes.