Solving the Key Challenge of Disaster Response – Communication Failure
If you read any after action report of a major event, you'll typically find these at the top of the problem list: 1. Lack of communication 2. Lack of coordination [...]
Unnecessary Trauma Entries – Let’s Develop Solutions Together
A recent study published by the Oregon Health & Science University indicates that during a three-year period in seven metropolitan areas in the western U.S., the emergency medical services system [...]
The Auto-Injector is Mightier than the Cruise Missile
With all the posturing, rhetoric and movement of military assets in the gulf with the threat of punishing the Syrian government’s suspected use of a chemical weapon in their battle [...]
Self Conducted Exit Interview of a Medic
There is a saying that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, and it got me to wondering if the converse was true, can an old dog leave behind [...]
Are They Being Risky or Aggressive?
For the past two decades when I have had the honor of educating members of public safety, emergency management and our military I like to ask the question, “How do [...]
Playing the odds, what kind of event will be the “big one” for 2013?
I asked the question back last year, what type of disaster would we see in 2012? Natural disasters including severe weather, flooding, earthquakes, fires and drought were the most common [...]
Do We Lack The Will to Prepare?
Bobby Knight once said "The key is not the will to win... everybody has that. It is the will to prepare to win that is important." I have to wonder [...]
Does Class Warfare Play Into Disaster Preparedness and Response?
Globally we know that the impoverished are disproportionately impacted by disasters both in direct affects and recovery. I have to wonder if the same holds true within the borders of [...]
If I Knew Then What I Know Now – 2009 H1N1 Pandemic Lessons Learned
I thought with flu season ahead of us in the northern half of the hemisphere it might be a good time for people to share what they learned from the [...]
The Surrender of Self Reliance
I spent some time in a developing nation recently and came away with a new appreciation for all that we have available to us in the United States and a [...]