Public Health Practices

After Hurricane Katrina, the National Sexual Violence Resource Center and several Louisiana organizations developed guidance and resources for disaster responders to use in preventing and responding to sexual violence. With input from public meetings, the agencies created the guide to help organizations develop sexual assault prevention and response procedures. Their cross-disciplinary approach helped integrate sexual violence concerns into disaster response.

Oregon’s "Taking H1N1 Vaccination to Vulnerable Populations" pilot project utilized nontraditional vaccinators, specifically paramedics affiliated with local ambulance services, as a strategy to improve influenza vaccination rates among homebound seniors and people with disabilities. Collaboration between local health departments, community-based organizations, and emergency medical service agencies provided flu vaccine to homebound individuals during a five-county pilot project in Oregon.

In 2009, the Chicago Fire Department (CFD) identified a need to simultaneously treat multiple stable fire and inhalation victims who require oxygen, whether due to a previous medical condition or as the result of an acute event, such as evacuation of any building, hospital, health care facility or treatment facility, due to fires or other hazards. The solution needed to be mobile, allowing responders to provide oxygen services during emergencies anywhere in the Chicago area.

The Act is a legislative proposal intended to make voluntary health practitioners available for deployment as quickly as possible in response to emergency declarations. The National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws recommends that this Act be enacted by all states. It serves as an extremely useful template for addressing a number of complex legal issues around rapid deployment of volunteers in emergency situations.

A small pocket guide provides guidance on how first responders should approach caring for people with special needs during an emergency. The content may serve as a quick reference for first responders who are augmenting the healthcare workforce or serving in an alternate care center during an emergency. A reviewer with experience in emergency response mentioned that this tool would be an invaluable resource for responders who otherwise would learn special needs skills through experience.