Disaster Preparedness III

Do you have an Emergency Operation Plan (EOP) for your family????


Recently, I have been taking some courses to enhance my skills in EMS and in Emergency Management. One of the major things that I have learned is that many public safety officials, like myself, are prepared to prepare others in an event of an emergency/disaster BUT we are not prepared ourselves regarding our personal lives. We train, study, and prepare to help others but make the mistake with forgetting about our family and self well-being.


With that said, I wanted to put a STRONG VOICE to all of my public safety individuals and every one else to develop an EOP for your family. An EOP is a written document that many organizations use to show and tell them what and how to maneuver in the event that a disaster occurs (Natural, man made, fire, etcetera). This manual, that you'll develop for your family, should involve items that need to be in place for you to survive within a 96 hour time span (time FEMA allotted it will take for emergency personnel to get to you during a natural disaster). These items should include, but not limited to, generators, fire extinguishers, first aid kits, water, food that can last without being refrigerated, warm clothes & blankets, any medical items for the medically ill family member(s), and so on and so forth. Exit routes and items needed (e.g. ladders) not only need to be planned but also practiced. Also a contact person outside the immediate area, as I previously discussed in the last post.


Once you've developed your EOP you MUST practice it so each family member is aware of what to do, how to do it, and also to help you make some adjustments to your plan in case some of it did not work out the way you initially planned. Lastly, develop your EOP based on what is common in your area. For example, you wouldn't want to make an natural disaster EOP for a hurricane when you are more susceptible to tornadoes.


Take all of this into account and take it into action. This can make a world of difference WHEN an emergency strikes.


Peace & Blessings,

M. D. Martin

Disaster Preparedness II

Do you have your place to meet???

When an emergency happens, whether medical or disaster related, and the situation forces you to leave your residence or your current location immediately, places to meet usually haven't been discussed. If you truly think about it, discussing meeting places are not high on the agenda or on the "to-do" list. Well, here is a nice nudge to wake you up and discuss meeting places with your family, friends, and/or any other person(s) that would benefit from this conversation.

Why is a meeting place important? Well, let's look at it in a couple of ways. Initially, when an emergency/disaster occurs you are in a panic mode and your first reaction (fight or flight ) response is to get away from the immediate danger as fast and as far away as possible. With this said, many things would and can be left behind. Things such as purses and wallets (identification), phones (communication access), and so on and so forth. As much as one would like to say that these things would be remembered, in reality, these are the things, in inclusion with other items, that would be forgotten. Therefore, making it a point to pick a meeting place would be ideal and less stressful.

According to the Department of Homeland Security website (2011), you should pick two meeting places. One place should be located within the community in which you reside (e.g. a neighbors home, renting office, clubhouse, etc.). The other place should be outside of your residence (e.g. a friend/family home, hotel, etc.). Having these places relieves you of unnecessary stress when it comes to lost communication and missing family members not knowing where to go.

Take this into consideration and pass this information on to family, friends, and coworkers who are not aware...


http://www.dhs.gov/xcitizens/editorial_0711.shtm



Peace & Blessings,

M. D. Martin

Disaster Preparedness I

I know, I know...I skipped a month. But it was all for rest and relaxation :-)

Now, back to information I truly think we all need to know. Recently, in the past years, and more so in that past months, natural disasters have been highly experience throughout the nation and the world. There is something that I have noticed...when these natural disasters occur, regardless of how "prepared" our government seem to be, WE should be twice as prepared to assist ourselves when they are not able to. With that said, I have decided to start a series of blogs that will provide vital information for you to prepare yourself in the event that you are in the mist of a natural disaster.

DO YOU HAVE YOUR "GO TO" PERSON?

When a natural disaster occurs the first thing that usually happens is the lines of communication are either limited or completely out of service until fixed days after the disaster occurs. This causes people to panic  even more so because they are not able to get in contact with their loved ones. To help eliminate or decrease this situation from occurring you should prepare is to have a contact person within the family that everyone knows as the contact person. This individual should live a good distance away from you. Meaning they will be less likely to be directly affected by the disaster. Using this person is vital to keeping communication open and direct because it is clear to all that this person is the point of contact. How helpful this could be?!?! Instead of trying to call or contact everyone in your phone book, you and all of your family are aware to call this individual and they will keep everyone abreast of everyone's status or whereabouts. It is also so easier to remember one person instead or multiple people when you are high with emotions.

To some it might sound minute but it is very very effective and important. It will decrease any unnecessary stress and provide the best convenient method of keeping as much communication open as possible, especially in an unforeseen disaster.


M. D. Martin


Point of reference: http://72hours.org/make_plan.html

Febrile Seizures

In my line of work I tend to pay close attention to those emergency situations that can be prevented without our (public safety officials) assistance. Meaning, if people are more aware of how to handle certain emergency situations at hand a lot of initial response can be more manageable (to help the situation rather than hurt it). With that said, I would like to talk about febrile seizures and how you can be a great asset to help rectify the matter if or when it occurs.

According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Strokes website (2011), a febrile seizure occurs when an infant/toddler have a sudden spike in his/her temperature because of a sudden sickness (e.g. cold, flu, teething, etc.). This type of seizure is very unexpected to most parents, guardians, and/or caregivers and they respond as any normal person would do because they have no idea of what's happening. The seizure usually last on for a few moments/seconds. However there are some that can last longer. If the seizure last more than 10 minutes emergency medical services are needed and HIGHLY recommended. To help prevent febrile seizures, monitor your child's fever at any point when they start showing signs of being or becoming sick. Administer fever reducing medicines that will keep their fever stay at bay. Remember, the best and most accurate way to check their fever is rectally. If the seizure does occur you must treat it like any other person having a seizure, which is to lay them on a "protected surface", lay them on their side to prevent choking of any foreign object or saliva, hold their head to prevent any head injury, and wait until it subsides. Once the seizure ends you should expect the child to be somewhat out of it, this is called the Postictal State (an altered state of consciousness). They might have also loss control of their bowel or urine (incontinence). This is very normal after a seizure. One thing that you must NOT do is cover the child up in anything (blanket, towel, sheet, etc.) this will make their fever worse and will not help the situation.

For many parents who may read this, I know this can be a scary thing to think about concerning your child but I'd rather for you to be prepared than thrown off guard. Your preparedness determines how you respond and at moments like this your child will need you to think as clearly as possible. My last note, if you did not have to go to the level of calling 911 or taking your child to the emergency room because the seizure did not subside (meaning you got through it enought to make it to the next day), take your child to see their pediatrician so they can document this episode and run tests if needed.

Hope this was insightful to you and you are able to be more prepared. Below is a link for you to gather more information about febrile seizures:

http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/febrile_seizures/detail_febrile_seizures.htm#178003111


Peace & Blessings,

M. D. Martin

Bystander Advocacy

What about those in the background...they need information too?!?!

One thing that I have noticed working in the EMS field is that as we tend to patients, another aspect of the environment (medical or traumatic scenes) is being left in the dark and are liable to be a hindrance to patient care, if not taken care of. What and who I am referring to...family members, bystanders, witnesses, friends, coworkers, or anyone who is on the scene and are truly affected by the "current" emergency. I have noticed and recognized that these individuals become erratic because they are not only scared and  terrified of the possible outcome but also due to the fact that they are mostly left out in the dark. To the defense of public safety personnel, it is not intentional but merely a response that we are focusing on the patient(s) in need at hand, making sure they get the best pre-hospital care possible. This time is limited in the field, hence doing what you can in the time granted with minimal distractions as possible.

With that said, I highly suggest that "bystander advocacy" become implemented within the emergency medical system. This individual that will respond to emergency calls as the communication liaison between EMS personnel and family member/friend/co-worker/etc. Their job or duty will be to inform these individuals of what is going on, why they need to stand back and give space for everyone's safety, provide extended medical resources in the event that the bystander can't emotionally or physically take on the current emergency, and so on and so forth. This advocate must be certified as a public safety personnel in regards to procedures, protocols, rules and reguaaltions acknowlegement. This advocate will simultaneously prevent and allow several things to happen in the course of emergency patient care. As a result, the patients will receive quicker and higher quality care because of the time granted with minimal to no distractions. Second, the bystanders will have a clearer understanding of the procedures and why it is pertinent for them to not only trust but also allow EMS personnel to do their job. Third, the probability of further harm occurring to the patient or harm developing to EMS and/or bystander because of a bystander placing themselves in the mist of the scene will decrease. These factors occur more than they need to and with the assistance of a bystander advocacy personnel there as a buffer will be a great asset to and for public safety throughout the nation and the world. Lets think and consider this...


Peace & Blessings


M. D. Martin

 

Sugars Affecting the Immune System???

Okay, so as you can probably see my pattern of informing you once a month of something I have learned or experience regarding your health. Whether it is certain practices (emergency of non) that you may not notice that could be causing negative affects to your health or preventative measures that would keep you up and running in this life's span.


This month I wanted to share something with you that I recently was informed about and feel it could be helpful for many of you, especially those who have children. This past weekend I attended a Health & Spa symposium and there were several health businesses present. One, in particular, shared some information with me that blew me away and intrigued me enough to do some research of my own. I advise you to do the same...

We always here about carbohydrates (simple and complex/bad and good) and how we should be mindful of which carbs to eat and what moderation. However, I was not aware to go a little bit deeper in knowing how "sugars" can negatively affect your immune system in such a way that it not only prevents your white blood cells from adequately fighting off all of the viruses, pathogens, bacteria, etc. on a daily basis but it also puts you at a higher risk of getting cancer. For example, when we decide to eat a candy bar your immune system has decrease so to the point where you are highly exposed to viruses, bacteria, and such for the next five (5) hours. That is a HUGE time span! I mean, my goodness, I did not know something that taste really good and only last for a short time could be so detrimental to the body at THAT moment. The white cells are, unfortunately, as attracted to sugars as they are vitamin C. Meaning, the white cells will grasp on to the sugars and become weakened and helpless leaving the vitamin C wondering around aimlessly (Grace, 2011). Who wants that for five hours every time you eat a candy bar or any type of refined carbohydrate.

  With children being more prone to colds and any other agents out there than adults I can see why health professionals are leery about children consuming "sugary" foods/snacks, especially on a frequent basis. It will do more hurt at the end.

In the good grace of your health and those you love lets be mindful of what we consume and do our part in keeping ourselves healthy enough to fight off the numerous amounts of agents we come across on a daily basis.

Peace & Blessings,

M. D. Martin



Grace, N. (2011). What causes a low immune system?. Retrieved from http://www.ehow.com/about_5049622_causes-low-immune-system.html

Preventative Health Care Tactics

In my line of business, Emergency Medical Services, many of the individuals I tend care to are those who have medical emergency issues or complications because of the lack of preventive health care tactics. Some individuals are in these predicaments because of their own stubbornness and with these patients there is not a lot you can do because they already know the consequences and just choose otherwise. However, the other major percentage of people I care for use EMS because of economic restraints that, they feel, causes them to not seek the health care they truly needed prior to their emergency situation. Unfortunately, most of these people are not aware that by going to the ER or either going to the ER by ambulance you are causing more economic hardship on yourself than if one would have taken preventative health care measures.  For example, the average cost for ambulance (pre-hospital) care will run you at least $900 and this is without cost per mileage and use of medical supplies (such as blood pressure, EKG monitor, IV, IV fluid, drugs, oxygen, and so forth). With most companies I am being very generous with this price. At the end of the day your ambulance bill will run up in the thousands, and this is before you even hit the hospital doors to receive whatever extreme bill they will charge you for their services. Being an individual who is not insured or whom is underinsured will experience more stress and complications with the payment alone putting your health in more of a risk because of your worries.

To those who fall in this category you can do something beneficial for yourself and your family before your health get to a point of needing emergency services is your only option.  For one, Urgent Care Facilities are becoming more and more prominent. These facilities are a step up from going to the ER. They are more accessible, more cost effective than ER visits and they offer immediate care to those injuries or illnesses that do not need to be seen by an ER nurse or doctor. Most of these facilities are ran by retired or current ER physicians who are capable and able to treat you in the event of a emergency that does not require an ER visit. Additionally, you will have the best of  both worlds with the feel of a PCP (Primary Care Provider) and an ER with no appointments needed. Second, there are community clinics and/programs that offer VERY good cost effective health care services to keep you abreast and updated on your current health. The HISplan Health Care Center is an example of one of these programs that I am personally invloved with to market to the community (contact me for information if needed). To boot, these programs/clinics goals are to help keep your health intact in the most inexpensive way as possible. They will work with you to help keep you on board with your health. The EXTREME goal on YOUR part is to stay consistent in going. At the end of it all your health and your pockets will be grateful for this preventative health care tactic. 

Emergency Preparedness

Should land lines (home phones) cease to exist????

I am sure many of you see the benefit of getting rid of your home phones for several reasons. The biggest I hear is that it is common sense to lose the land line when most, if not all, of us have cells phones. It is cheaper, it reduces bills, and I wholeheartedly agree. However, many of you do not know a small but major detail that is a downfall with not having a land line available in your home. I work in Emergency Medical Services and as I work in this field I tend to have more access to knowledge that many are not aware of. I take it as my duty to you to inform you on such matters.

With that being said, in EMS we can have our fair share of phone disconnections between the 911 operater and the caller. They are usually from the caller's phone error or hysteria due to the medical emergency. When the latter happens the caller does not realize or even care that they have hung up because they are experiencing a medical/traumatic emergency. At this point, the dispatchers' job is not only try to call the caller back but also pinpoint the callers location through tracking (something akin to a GPS system). The not so good part if you are using your cell phone is that dispatch can only track you within the radius your cell phone is currently in, not the exact location (i.e. a 10 or 20 mile radius). Meaning, fire, EMS, and police are told the area but not the specific address. Because of this time is wasted. Public saftey officials will either knock on residental doors or go into random businesses hoping to find the caller and their medical/traumatic emergency. If not, they will go back in service because they have no further lead on the caller's whereabouts.

Now, in the event that a caller did use a land line phone the dispatcher will not only know the direct address but can immediately send public safety personnel to the correct address and potentially save a life. In healthcare, we have a saying that "time is muscle", which means every minute counts in regards to saving a life.


Would you want to be caught in this dilemma? I sure wouldn't...so I am making it a priority to have a land line in my home for emergency purposes. You might want to consider the same.