1.Employee Perceptions of Their Organization's Level of Emergency Preparedness Following a Brief Workplace Emergency Planning Educational Presentation.
Lauren A RENSCHLER ; Elizabeth A TERRIGINO ; Sabiya AZIM ; Elsa SNIDER ; Darson L RHODES ; Carol C COX
Safety and Health at Work 2016;7(2):166-170
A brief emergency planning educational presentation was taught during work hours to a convenience sample of employees of various workplaces in Northern Missouri, USA. Participants were familiarized with details about how an emergency plan is prepared by management and implemented by management-employee crisis management teams - focusing on both employee and management roles. They then applied the presentation information to assess their own organization's emergency preparedness level. Participants possessed significantly (p < 0.05) higher perceptions of their organization's level of emergency preparedness than non-participants. It is recommended that an assessment of organizational preparedness level supplement emergency planning educational presentations in order to immediately apply the material covered and encourage employees to become more involved in their organization's emergency planning and response. Educational strategies that involve management-employee collaboration in activities tailored to each workplace's operations and risk level for emergencies should be implemented.
Civil Defense*
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Cooperative Behavior
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Emergencies*
;
Missouri
2.Public health emergency preparedness and response to emerging infectious diseases.
Journal of the Korean Medical Association 2017;60(4):290-291
No abstract available.
Civil Defense*
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Communicable Diseases, Emerging*
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Emergencies*
;
Public Health*
3.Public health emergency preparedness and response in Korea.
Journal of the Korean Medical Association 2017;60(4):296-299
Infectious disease control and prevention in Korea are handled based on laws such as the Framework Act on the Management of Disasters and Safety and the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act. To fill the gaps in the national public health system that were identified during the 2015 Middle East respiratory syndrome outbreak in Korea, Korea has strengthened its capacity to prepare for and respond to public health emergency. The objectives are to prevent, promptly detect, and rapidly respond to imported infectious diseases; to fully mobilize public health and medical resources; to revise governance enhancing the role of the centralized decision-making structures; and to improve health care facilities to prevent health care-associated infections.
Civil Defense*
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Communicable Diseases
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Coronavirus Infections
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Delivery of Health Care
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Disasters
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Emergencies*
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Jurisprudence
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Korea*
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Public Health*
4.Preparedness for terrorism: managing nuclear, biological and chemical threats.
Annals of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore 2009;38(12):1026-1030
The management of nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC) terrorism events is critical to reducing morbidity and mortality in the next decade; however, initial patient care considerations and protective actions for staff are unfamiliar to most front-line clinicians. High explosive events (bomb and blast) remain the most common type of terrorism and are easy to detect. Conversely, some types of terrorist attacks are more likely to be unsuspected or covert. This paper explains the current threat of terrorism and describes clues for detection that an event has occurred. Specific criteria that should lead to a high suspicion for terrorism are illustrated. The manuscript outlines initial actions and clinical priorities for management and treatment of patients exposed to nuclear/radiological, biological, chemical and combined agents (for example an explosion involving a chemical agent). Examples of terrorist events include: a nuclear explosion, an aerosolised release of anthrax (biological), dissemination of sarin in a subway (chemical), and the detonation of a radiologic dispersion device or "dirty bomb" (combined explosive and radiological). Basic principles of decontamination include potential risks to healthcare providers from secondary exposure and contamination. Unique issues may hinder clinical actions. These include coordination with law enforcement for a crime scene, public health entities for surveillance and monitoring, hazardous materials teams for decontamination, and the media for risk communications. Finally, the importance of personal preparedness is discussed.
Biological Warfare Agents
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Chemical Warfare Agents
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Civil Defense
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Nuclear Weapons
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Terrorism
5.Analysis of the Layperson Ability to perform Basic Life Support in Public Facilities.
Jung Won LEE ; Hye Sun KIM ; Ho Jung KIM
Journal of the Korean Society of Emergency Medicine 2009;20(1):20-25
PURPOSE: We wanted to evaluate the public's ability to perform basic life support (BLS) in public facilities. METHODS: We collected the information and results of BLS from the public in parks and civil defense education centers. The enrolled subjects performed the CPR sequence and the foreign body airway obstruction (FBAO) sequence on manikins. RESULTS: Three hundred sixty people were enrolled and 186 (52%) of them knew about BLS by the media. Also, 257 (71%) of them answered that the media was important when they were asked about the priority of the education methods for BLS. On the results of the tests, 111 (30%) were not confident performing BLS and as a result, only 9 persons correctly performed the sequence of BLS and 2 persons correctly performed the sequency of FBAO. 189(57%) of them were contacted any cases of resuscitation education just by media and 250(74%) were evaluated in having affinity to media educations. Self-satisfaction was revealed almost at 50~80 points. CONCLUSION: Almost all public persons did not correctly perform the sequence of BLS. We expected that the media will have a large role to teach and effectively spread the techniques of BLS to the public.
Airway Obstruction
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Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
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Civil Defense
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Foreign Bodies
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Humans
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Mass Media
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Public Facilities
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Resuscitation
6.Nurses' familiarity on disaster preparedness in hospitals.
Ara Alyssa Rabaya ; Jerilyn Mae Aquino ; Hanna Meghan Rayne Bahatan ; Emelynne Dongla ; Nicole Paula Jimenez ; Lovelace Osei-Afriyie ; Aimee Dianne Piamonte ; Sheila Ruto ; Bruce Derick Tomines ; Ria Joy Padilla
Philippine Journal of Nursing 2016;86(2):50-56
Disasters are frequently experienced in the Philippines with detrimental impact to hospitals and its vulnerable population. Nurses, who are front liners in hospitals during disasters, must be familiar in disaster management. This study determined the extent of familiarity on disaster preparedness of nurses in hospitals, and the significant difference when grouped according to years of experience, position and area of assignment. A quantitative descriptive method was employed, wherein the EPIQ (Emergency Preparedness Information Questionnaire) was used. Nurses with more than one year of experience were selected using simple random sampling. T-test and F-test were employed. Findings revealed that nurses were moderately familiar on disaster preparedness and there was a significant difference in all variables. Nurses in hospitals have more to learn on disaster preparedness. The need for continuing education is recommended. Future researches may be done on unaccounted for factors from this study like gender or type of institution using objective-type questionnaire.
Human ; Male ; Female ; Civil Defense ; Vulnerable Populations ; Disasters ; Hospitals ; Education, Continuing ; Surveys And Questionnaires
7.Optimal trauma care system in Korea.
Journal of the Korean Medical Association 2013;56(9):748-750
Trauma is the leading cause of mortality and disability for Koreans under age 44. In Korea, 35.2% of trauma deaths are preventable. Currently, a trauma care system is just beginning to be established in Korea. Optimal trauma care systems have the potential to significantly reduce trauma-related mortality. For patients with severe injuries, getting care at a trauma center lowers the risk of mortality by 15-25%. An optimal trauma care system provides care with a well-functioning, comprehensive system from pre-hospital trauma care through the rehabilitation stages. A trauma care system should also include disaster preparedness and education and training to the public, and to paramedics and trauma-related medical personnel. An optimal trauma care system will give the right treatment to the right patients at the right place and time. The components of optimal trauma systems include trauma center designation; the existence of trauma advisory groups; trauma registry use for quality control; current field triage guidelines; trauma system involvement in emergency preparedness planning; and national funding sources.
Allied Health Personnel
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Civil Defense
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Disasters
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Financial Management
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Humans
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Hypogonadism
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Korea
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Mitochondrial Diseases
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Ophthalmoplegia
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Trauma Centers
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Triage
8.Improving capability of local public hospital and health center against newly emerging infectious diseases after Middle East respiratory syndrome epidemic in Korea.
Journal of the Korean Medical Association 2015;58(8):700-705
Healthcare system in Korea was found to be very vulnerable to public health emergency preparedness and response as demonstrated in the recent outbreak of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus. We need to redefine the function of and improve the capability of local district public hospital and local health center to cope with potential threats by newly emerging infectious disease in the nearer future. While central government may be responsible for early detection of newly emerging infectious disease transmitted from outside of the country, local government and its district-level public healthcare agencies need to primarily control over spread of the disease among the local residents. Governance setting for rapid response required in public health crisis situation appears to be possible based on strong local public health infrastructure for health promotion and disease prevention at si-gun-gu district level. Proper and sustainable investment is also needed for local public hospital with high standard facilities and skilled healthcare manpower since there seems little economic incentives to maintain such facilities in private hospitals. In conclusion, it would be urgent task to improve prevention activities for infectious disease of local health centers and clinical activities of local public hospital. Especially, role and competencies of public health physicians working at the public health center need to be specified as an essential component of public health infrastructure.
Civil Defense
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Communicable Diseases
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Communicable Diseases, Emerging*
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Coronavirus
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Delivery of Health Care
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Disease Outbreaks
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Health Promotion
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Hospitals, Private
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Hospitals, Public*
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Investments
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Korea*
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Local Government
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Middle East*
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Motivation
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Public Health
9.Emergency Medical Centers Preparedness for a Biological Disaster in Korea.
Tae Jin PARK ; Woo Ju KIM ; Jae Chul YUN ; Bum Jin OH ; Kyoung Soo LIM ; Bu Su LEE ; Tae Ho LIM ; Jae baek LEE ; Eun Suk HONG
Journal of the Korean Society of Emergency Medicine 2008;19(3):263-272
PURPOSE: To investigate different emergency medical centers' (EMCs) preparedness for a biological disaster in Korea. METHODS: A survey of 120 EMCs in Korea was done through questionnaire. We examined facilities, equipments and supplies, and emergency personnel training and drill. RESULTS: Ninety (75%) EMCs participated in the survey. Sixteen were from regional/specialized EMCs and 74 were from local EMCs. The median for the number of staffed beds were 680(range, 200~2200) and the median for patient visits were 73(range, 24~210) per day. Ten(11%) of the 90 participating EMCs had personal protective equipments (PPEs); 7(8%) had wet decontamination units; 11(12%) had independent ventilation systems; 15(17%) had mechanical ventilator; 9(10%) had life lines; 39(43%) had alternative care sites and none (0%) had triage tag with presence of contamination. At least one drill was conducted annually in 11(12%). When the availability of resources needed in a biological disaster between regional/specialized EMCs and local EMCs were compared, the regional/specialized EMCs had PPEs(38% vs. 5%, p<0.01), wet decontamination unit(44% vs. 0%, p<0.01), independent ventilation systems (31% vs. 8%, p<0.05), and drills (38% vs. 7%, p<0.01) more frequently than local EMCs. Approximately 70% of the respondents attributed the above passive preparedness results from a lack of budget and the notion that only the minimum preparedness is necessary for the possibility of a biological disaster. Also, half of the respondents agreed that new infectious diseases will occur with a possibility of more than 50% in the future. CONCLUSION: Our data indicated that preparedness of EMCs for a biological disaster in Korea was low. Therefore, we should develop comprehensive plans to remedy the identified deficiencies.
Biological Warfare
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Budgets
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Civil Defense
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Communicable Diseases
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Surveys and Questionnaires
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Decontamination
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Disaster Planning
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Disasters
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Emergencies
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Equipment and Supplies
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Humans
;
Korea
;
Mandrillus
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Triage
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Ventilation
10.Role of the local government in infectious disease-related public health emergency preparedness and response.
Journal of the Korean Medical Association 2017;60(4):300-305
In public health emergency arising from an infectious disease epidemic, the local government is responsible for protecting the community residents by containing the spread of the disease. Such role requires close collaboration with the central government and health care institutions. Preparedness capabilities of the local government include biosurveillance, community resilience, countermeasures and mitigation, incident management, information management, and surge management. During the epidemic of Middle East respiratory syndrome in Korea, local governments exercised great efforts in contact management, patient identification, and patient management. Korea Ministry of Health and Welfare is promoting for the local governments to prepare the infectious disease emergency preparedness plan by providing a common framework. Community preparedness involves the roles of health care institutions in order to protect the residents' health. Hospitals and primary care clinics need to maintain sufficient levels of preparedness to secure safe environment and to provide sustainable service during the emergency situations.
Biosurveillance
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Civil Defense*
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Communicable Diseases
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Cooperative Behavior
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Coronavirus Infections
;
Delivery of Health Care
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Emergencies*
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Humans
;
Information Management
;
Korea
;
Local Government*
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Primary Health Care
;
Public Health*