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Emergency Management Alert

Issue 52, December 29, 2009

• Hospital fire causes suspected to be spark near oxygen gear

  The cause of a third-floor patient room fire at Kindred Hospital at St. Anthony’s Medical...

• Hospital’s big move gives insight to logistics of evacuation

  In Denison, TX, Texoma Medical Center (TMC) is transferring all its patients into a new facility...

• Emergency Management Tip: Joint Commission critical areas

  The Joint Commission has defined a number of critical areas for hospitals to manage during an...

Issue 51, December 22, 2009

• Emergency preparedness report says pandemic response has improved

  A December 15, 2009 national report entitled Ready or Not? Protecting The Public’s Health...

• Major snow storms slam much of the country

  A snow storm crept up the Eastern coast over the weekend, prompting an emergency declaration in the...

• Emergency Management Tip: A qualified emergency management coordinator

  Emergency management coordinators (EMC) don't appear out of thin air. Nor is EMC an entry-level...

Issue 50, December 15, 2009

• Wisconsin blizzard causes slippery roads, numerous accidents

  Wisconsin saw heavy snow and high winds on Wednesday from Blizzard Allison, reports the local Fox...

• CT hospital keeps visitor restrictions after H1N1 infection rates drop

  Bristol (CT) Hospital, which in October banned all visitors under age 18, is keeping its new...

• Emergency Management Tip: Include vendors in EM drills

   It's a good practice to encourage vendors in your contingency plans to participate in your...

Issue 49, December 8, 2009

• Some states see declining H1N1 rates

  Hospitals in Massachusetts are seeing a decline in patients with H1N1 flu symptoms, reports the...

• Disaster plans and IT

  Most hospitals prepare their clinicians on what to do during a disaster. But what if the hospital's...

• Emergency Management Tip: Perimeter and crowd control

  A large event can result in a surge of casualties, so crowd control measures are critical. As soon...

Issue 48, December 1, 2009

• Nevada combines offices, simplifies emergency management

  The Nevada state government has unified its homeland security and emergency management functions...

• NY gamers will receive emergency terrorist warnings

  New York state authorities have a plan in the works to use a video game system to disseminate...

• Emergency Management Tip: Assessing your water utilities

   Hospitals need water for consumption, essential care activities, equipment, and sanitary...

Issue 47, November 24, 2009

• AHRQ develops tools for choosing alternate care sites

  The Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Agency for Health Research and Quality (AHRQ...

• Southeast Michigan hospitals prepare for flu

  With a rise in patients with flu symptoms and a warning from the Centers for Disease Control and...

• Emergency Management Tip: Securing grants

  Grants are a tremendous resource to help you purchase disaster equipment and support training and...

Issue 46, November 17, 2009

• Michigan community launches text message alert system

  Lansing, MI, will soon offer information during emergencies and disasters via text message...

• Emergency declared for New Jersey coast

  New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine declared a state of emergency for Cumberland County due to last week's...

• Emergency Management Tip: Transportation during disasters

  Because fuel becomes a precious commodity in a disaster, identify what contingencies are in place...

Issue 45, November 10, 2009

• After Fort Hood shootings, Twitter proves useful for one hospital

  Thursday’s shootings at Fort Hood, TX, let one facility rev up its Twitter presence with...

• Alert system to be installed in Southeastern rural areas

  The Alabama Emergency Management Agency has announced they may be potentially hiring Global...

• Emergency Management Tip: Advice for the new emergency management coordinator

  If you are new to the role of emergency management, don't assume that there will be someone to...

Issue 44, November 3, 2009

• Oregon hospitals tighten visitation policies to curb H1N1

  Hospitals in Oregon, along with many other hospitals across the country, are tightening their...

• Tornadoes, storms hit parts of Louisiana, Arkansas

  Violent thunderstorms and tornadoes hit Northwestern Louisiana and neighboring Arkansas Thursday...

• Emergency Management Tip: Use electronic tracking to follow patients

  An electronic system is the best way to store patient tracking information and share it with your...

Issue 43, October 27, 2009

• Obama declares H1N1 flu national emergency

  President Obama has declared the H1N1 outbreak a national emergency, according to the New York...

• California taps into cache of N95 respirators

   To help prevent healthcare workers against the H1N1 virus, California state officials are...

• Emergency Management Tip: Contingency plans and vendor agreements

  As you develop contingency plans, you will need to have several Memorandums of Understanding (MOU...

Issue 42, October 20, 2009

• Ohio hospitals urge for officials to drop N95 respirator mask requirement

  The Ohio Hospital Association is asking the Ohio Health Department to relax guidelines on N95...

• UCLA receives CDC grant for emergency preparedness research

  The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) School of Public Health has received a $4.8...

• Emergency Management Tip: Proactive approaches to your HVA

  Emergency Management Tip: Proactive approaches to your HVA A hospital should review their hazard...

• Editor’s Pick: Emergency Preparedness Solutions

  Be prepared for a natural or man-made disaster by training your staff through drill scenarios...

Issue 41, October 13, 2009

• Quarantine rules clarified in MA

  Last week the Massachusetts House of Representatives passed a law 113-36 that updates emergency...

• Obama surveys post-Katrina New Orleans

  President Barack Obama is scheduled to visit New Orleans on Thursday to evaluate the city’s...

• Emergency management tip: Review your communications

  Communication duties for hospital emergency management coordinators involve keeping a large group...

Issue 40, October 6, 2009

• U.S. launches H1N1 vaccine administration

  Healthcare workers in some states will receive their first dose of the 2009 H1N1 flu vaccine this...

• Second Life aides disaster preparedness at Chicago hospital

  Second Life, a software program through which people use avatars to create a lifelike virtual world...

• Emergency Management Tip: Evacuation training

  The emergency management coordinator typically coordinates training and exercises for emergency...

Issue 39, September 29, 2009

• Medical Center sends flu patients to separate makeshift ER

  MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland has decided to use an indoor plastic tent to treat patients...

• Georgia governor asks for emergency disaster declaration

  After a week's worth of heavy flooding, Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue is asked President Barack Obama...

• Emergency management tip: Evaluating your progress

   The role of a hospital EMC is a busy one. It feels like you are never done training new...

Issue 38, September 22, 2009

• Improved technology helps, but doesn't solve, potential problems from hurricanes in Carolinas

  Since Hurricane Hugo hit the Carolinas in 1989, emergency response operations and technology has...

• South Jersey Healthcare’s hazmat team an example of preparedness

  FireEngineering.com has highlighted South Jersey Healthcare's preparedness plan when it comes to...

• Georgia storm closes roads, schools

   Roads have been shut down and electricity has been knocked out in northern Georgia after...

Issue 37, September 15, 2009

• After 9/11, communications still a focus for VA emergency response

  During the 9/11 attacks, emergency workers at the Pentagon in Arlington County and the World Trade...

• Hospitals prepare for G-20 summit in Pittsburgh

  Pittsburgh-region hospitals are preparing for the city to host the G-20 summit, which hosts leaders...

• PA hospital limiting visitation for children

  The Danville (PA) Regional Medical Center (DRMC) has limited hospital visitation to visitors 12...

Issue 36, September 8, 2009

• Memorial Medical Center staff members faced tough decisions during Katrina

  Memorial Medical Center staff members faced tough decisions during Katrina Hurricane Katrina has...

• Missoula Hospital uses new product to move patients easily in emergenciesMissoula Hospital uses new product to move patients easily in emergencies

  Missoula Hospital uses new product to move patients easily in emergencies In preparation for...

• Emergency Management Tip: Contingency plans for heating and cooling systems

  Emergency Management Tip: Contingency Plans for Heating and Cooling Systems Heating and cooling...

Issue 35, September 1, 2009

• Hurricane Gustav serves as lesson for locals

  Terrebonne Parish Office of Emergency Preparedness in Houma, LA has learned some lessons about...

• Some hospitals make flu vaccinations mandatory

  West Virginia's largest hospital, Charleston Area Medical Center (CAMC) is requiring its 6,000...

• National Preparedness Month prompts Americans to prepare, volunteer, for emergencies

  September is National Preparedness Month, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is...

Issue 34, August 25, 2009

• 17 people collapse on MD high school football field

  Less than two hours into a high school football practice, 14 players and three coaches collapsed at...

• Lessons learned from CT hospital fire

  The flames that ensued after a basement transformers caught fire on August 11 in Lawrence &...

• CT city finds flaws in emergency plans after Hurricane Bill prep

  After emergency management officials in Norwich, CT, met to prepare for Hurricane Bill, officials...

Issue 33, August 18, 2009

• Generator fire causes hospital to relocate patients

  Lawrence & Memorial Hospital in New London, CT has reopened its emergency room after a fire...

• Emergency management field not prepared to help disabled in disaster, report finds

  A recent report from the National Council on Disability has found that many emergency managers are...

• Emergency officials prepare for potential San Gabriel Valley evacuations

  Emergency officials throughout the San Gabriel Valley gathered to explore methods to conduct an...

Issue 32, August 11, 2009

• More than 100 people treated after MA waste station inundated with fumes

  Emergency responders across the state came to aid employees at ABC Disposal, Inc. on August 3...

• FEMA administrator stops using Twitter after taking new position

  Newly appointed Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) administrator Craig Fugate has left his...

• CDC offers new tool to estimate medical needs of displaced persons in disaster

  Public health preparedness planners at local, state, and federal levels have a new tool to estimate...

Issue 31, August 4, 2009

• Homeland Security says more prep needed for pandemic response

  At a House Homeland Security committee hearing, experts said that there are gaps in the nation's...

• Tennessee storms cause outages, damage

  Storms swept the western Tennessee region Thursday, causing power outages, reports the Jackson Sun...

• Texas plant explosion sends dozens to hospitals

  An explosion in a Bryan, TX chemical plant forced thousands of people to evacuate from their homes...

Issue 30, July 28, 2009

• HHS increases funding to prepare for potential H1N1 virus outbreak

  Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius has announced that the department will...

• DHS considers change to terror scale

  The multi-colored terror alert system created after the 9/11 attacks is now under review, according...

Issue 29, July 21, 2009

• Social networks a true force for emergency management

  The Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) used Twitter in May 2009 to alert the public about events...

• FEMA says neighborly assistance should be first resource in disaster

  Rather than wait for government assistance, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) says...

• Connecticut hospitals prepare for swine flu, ice storm

  Hartford County hospitals and emergency planners in Connecticut are conducting a drill to test...

Issue 28, July 14, 2009

• Swine flu update: Children, healthcare workers should be vaccinated

  There have been a few new updates on the H1N1 virus, in particular on who should be vaccinated and...

• Nursing home evacuated after gas leak

  A gas leak at a 96-bed nursing home in Horse Cove, KY, prompted the evacuation of all its...

• Georgia ranks among worst in disaster preparedness

  Georgia ranked sixth-worst among 56 U.S. states and territories for readiness for public health...

• Obese may be at higher risk for swine flu complications

  New episodic reports also indicate that obese people may run into more severe complications after...

Issue 27, July 7, 2009

• Are the nation’s hospitals ready for disaster?

  Experts are worrying that long emergency room wait times and lack of local disaster planning...

• Many states still wary of H1N1 virus

  Hawaii now has 616 confirmed cases of the H1N1 virus, reports the Honolulu Advertiser, an increase...

Issue 26, June 30, 2009

• Emergency response to D.C.’s Metro crash showed increase preparedness

  Within minutes of the accident involving Washington D.C.'s red Metro line, emergency vehicles...

• Homeland Security Training Center for Disaster Preparedness holds training

  Hospital and public health emergency responders recently underwent training at the Homeland...

• Emergency communications tested in Minnesota

  Hospitals, clinics, and emergency management areas in 30 counties in Minnesota recently underwent a...

Issue 25, June 23, 2009

• Pressure on vendors helps determine pandemic supply levels

  The recent H1N1 flu virus outbreak was a test for many hospitals to obtain adequate levels of...

• FEMA tells Rhode Island to be better prepared for hurricane

  The New England office of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has warned about 200 Rhode...

Issue 24, April 7, 2009

• Florida hospital in lockdown after envelopes with white powder found

  Law enforcement officers responded to the Florida Hospital Heartland Division in Sebring April 2...

• Experts urge seasonal immunization of children

  With a second wave of H1N1 influenza virus expected this winter, some experts are warning that...

• University of Wisconsin Hospital completes largest mass casualty drill in state history

  The University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics has successful completed a wide-scale emergency...

Issue 23, June 9, 2009

• Computer disaster simulation can help hospitals

  A study by the American Medical Association's Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness...

• H1N1 preparedness varies throughout country

  New York City's health commissioner Thomas Farley, MD, has announced that a more serious strain of...

• National Weather Service offers new hurricane information

  The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service hurricane center has...

• New Jersey lawmakers aim to improve state’s storm preparedness

  Lawmakers in New Jersey have voiced support for a bill that aims to keep New Jersey well prepared...

• Social media used widely during flooding in Fargo, ND

  When floods in March 2009 left Innovis Health the only open health system in Fargo, ND, the system...

• HCPro’s emergency management training video wins "Award of Excellence"

  HCPro's valuable video training resource, Emergency Management for Frontline Staff: Protect Your...

Issue 22, June 2, 2009

• Federal hospital emergency preparedness funding decreases

  Many local health departments are concerned that less federal funding will lower the ability to...

• Technology key to minimize effects of disaster

  Technology could be a life saver during a disaster, or at least help to minimize its effects, Lt...

• Kentucky area still waiting for FEMA

  After tornados, floods, and mudslides hit eastern Kentucky three weeks ago, residents and emergency...

Issue 21, May 26, 2009

• CDC investigates H1N1 flu cases after Chicago hospital declares code yellow disaster

  A total of 300 H1N1 flu cases have been confirmed in Chicago, prompting the Centers for Disease...

• Director of HWEPC: Public health at risk

  Darrell Henry, executive director of the Healthcare Waste and Emergency Preparedness Coalition...

• Explosion at WV energy plant tests local hospital’s hazmat preparation

  An explosion at a Wetzel County (WV) energy company injured five men with liquid and aerosol forms...

Issue 20, May 19, 2009

• Emergency management witnesses back efforts for an independent FEMA

  During a recent hearing on the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), emergency management...

• New York City rehearses terrorist strike

  Hundreds of emergency personnel participated in a large-scale security exercise in lower Manhattan...

• FEMA announces new, safer trailers ready

  After thousands of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) mobile homes used to house homeless...

Issue 19, May 12, 2009

• Four states declare state of emergency

  Illinois, Kentucky, West Virginia, Missouri all declared states of emergency Saturday after...

• Nationwide, H1N1 tests hospitals’ emergency response

  Health officials in San Diego Count y have begun the preparation for a potential resurgence of the...

Issue 18, May 5, 2009

• Swine flu fears increase patient load

  Amid scares that the influenza A (H1N1), swine flu, cases were accumulating throughout the nation...

• Hurricane warning system needs update

  U.S. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) urged forecasters and federal, state, and local emergency...

• Death toll at five after Kansas flooding

  Heavy rains last week flooded areas in Kansas, Oklahoma, and Tennessee, leaving five dead in...

• AHRQ addresses special needs of pediatric units during public health emergencies

  The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has released a monograph addressing how...

Issue 17, April 28, 2009

• Hospitals prepare for swine flu outbreak

  After cases of swine flu in Mexico and the U.S. became more prevalent over the weekend, civilian...

• U.S. hospitals preparedness improving, but not perfect

  A new report from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center’s Center for Biosecurity found...

• New FEMA head promises higher standards

  Newly appointed FEMA head Craig Fugate told senators at his confirmation hearing on Wednesday that...

Issue 16, April 21, 2009

• Italian government investigates collapse of hospital in earthquake

  The Italian government has launched a judicial inquiry into the collapse of buildings, including...

• Inventory of emergency equipment underway

  A nationwide effort is underway to assess the inventory of emergency equipment that was paid for...

• County residents organize ham radio club

  Many emergency management directors have learned that the most reliable form of disaster...

Issue 15, April 14, 2009

• Hospitals need to be "beacons of security" in disasters

  Nearly a year after a massive earthquake devastated parts of southwest China, including thousands...

• New technology offers new means of communication

  Texting was responsible for bringing together a group of high school students in Wahpeton, ND, who...

• Twitter plays role in emergency planning

  One emergency management agency is taking advantage of Twitter, the social networking Web site that...

Issue 14, April 7, 2009

• Recommendations to protect workers in biological attacks

  Protecting workers from biological agents is the subject of a new publication just released by the...

• Helicopter exhaust fumes result in fine for L.A. hospital

  State health inspectors have fined a Los Angeles hospital for violating state workplace rules...

Issue 13, March 31, 2009

• Fargo, ND facilities evacuate patients in preparation for record flooding

  The MeritCare Health System began the evacuation of 180 patients from its facilities in Fargo, ND...

• Chimney collapse results in hospital evacuation

  The noise was so loud when part of a 40-foot chimney collapsed March 22 at the Adirondack Medical...

• Critical access hospitals struggle with emergency management standard

  Managing emergencies was a problematic Joint Commission standard in surveyed critical access...

Issue 12, March 24, 2009

• A new credential for emergency professionals

  There’s a new credential that disaster response and emergency management (EM) professionals...

• Louisiana hospitals and nursing homes get money for generators

  The state of Louisiana plans to launch a $31 million program to help hospitals and nursing homes...

• Should FEMA stay where it is?

  On March 17, a House Homeland Security Committee panel heard arguments about whether it makes sense...

Issue 11, March 17, 2009

• Monitoring resources is an emergency management hotspot

  Joint Commission standard EM.02.02.03, Element of Performance (EP) 6, requires that a...

• New tool to help hospitals prepare for influx of pediatric patients

  The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality has released a tool to help hospitals prepare to...

• Ambulance design could increase safety for emergency responders

  A study by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recognizes the hazards...

Issue 10, March 10, 2009

• Florida?s top EM boss picked to head FEMA

  Craig Fugate, the top emergency response official in Florida, has been nominated by President...

• Florida’s top EM boss picked to head FEMA

  Craig Fugate, the top emergency response official in Florida, has been nominated by President...

• Obama cabinet members check Gulf Coast recovery

  One of Craig Fugate’s first tasks as FEMA head was to join Homeland Security Director Janet...

• ?Pop-up? hospital in Pennsylvania ready for emergencies

  In the event of a large-scale emergency, volunteers could have a mobile hospital running anywhere...

• "Pop-up" hospital in Pennsylvania ready for emergencies

  In the event of a large-scale emergency, volunteers could have a mobile hospital running anywhere...

Issue 9, March 3, 2009

• New advancements in flu vaccine on horizon

  There appears to be some good news in the fight against pandemic influenza. A new development of...

• Recommendations for a system for tracking patients in evacuation

  The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality has posted a new report on recommendations for a...

• Symposium speaker will help you improve emergency preparation with your community

  An important presentation at the 3rd Annual Hospital Safety Center Symposium May 14-15 at Caesars...

Issue 8, February 24, 2009

• The Joint Commission updates Survey Activity Guide

  Two weeks ago we told you about how the Joint Commission’s internal Surveyor Survey Activity...

• Decontaminating EMS/firefighter equipment

  There are specific protocols for cleaning medical staff equipment such as personal protective...

• CDC releases new preparedness resource

  On February 11, the CDC launched a new resource center for emergency preparedness and response.

Issue 7, February 17, 2009

• Nurses union and healthcare facilities forge emergency preparedness agreement

  One problem emergency management directors face is guaranteeing enough staff will come to work in...

• Washington hospitals adopting consistent emergency codes

  Hospitals in Washington state are adopting new communication safety measures so that no matter what...

• Alberta faces emergency from falling space junk

  Here’s one crisis few emergency management plans likely address—the threat from falling...

Issue 6, February 10, 2009

• Australian hospitals treating burn victims

  The deadliest-ever wildfires in southeastern Australia are testing Melbourne hospitals after at...

• Emergency center useless in ice storm

  The importance of having enough generator power in an emergency was a lesson brought home by one...

• EC tracer is now part of formal survey agenda, says internal Joint Commission guide

  An internal guide given to surveyors by The Joint Commission indicates that environment of care...

Issue 5, February 3, 2009

• Ice storm brings patients to Midwest hospitals

  The massive winter storm that last week dumped ice and snow on a region that extends from Texas to...

• December ice storm leads to interest in ham radio

  An infamous ice storm that hit areas of New England in December is being credited with generating...

• Heavy snow cripples London, creates surge at hospitals

  The United States isn’t the only country where winter weather has taken its toll. Heavy snow...

Issue 4, January 27, 2009

• Metro Milwaukee residents unprepared for disaster

  Researchers at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee recently surveyed more than 1,800...

• CDC offers insight to revised Field Triage Guidelines

  Last week the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published a report with guidelines...

• In disasters, prepare for a possible surge of late-arriving victims

  Despite the fact there were few injuries, and fortunately no deaths, the Hudson River plane crash...

Issue 3, January 20, 2009

• Ohio hospital successfully evacuates babies during flood

  A frozen water pipe that burst at Akron Children’s Hospital in Akron, OH, sent staff into...

• Maryland lacks preparedness for a disaster

  James Lee Witt Associates, a crisis-management and preparedness-service firm in Washington D.C...

• D.C. area hospitals prepare for inauguration surge

  Hospitals in Prince William County, VA have been preparing for the last month, with expectations...

Issue 2, January 13, 2009

• Power failure puts home life support patients in jeopardy

  Power outages usually mean a period of discomfort for most people. But for those on home medical...

• Inauguration forces hospitals to stock up

  Although the inauguration of President-Elect Barack Obama likely won’t be classified as a...

• Flooding in Washington blamed on global warming

  Last weeks’ flooding in Washington state is potentially not so natural. Experts say the...

Issue 1, January 6, 2009

• Power outage worries Hawaii dialysis patients

  Although most of the news surrounding power outages in Hawaii nearly two weeks ago focused on...

• Alabama residents receive free emergency radios

  As part of a program to organize better lines of communication during a disaster, residents in six...

• Military to assist with future natural disasters

  The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) is planning to use an unlikely source to provide more...