Efforts over the last two decades to prepare communities for disasters have failed and new methodologies need to be developed, according to research by FEMA’s Higher Education Program. The FEMA Higher Education National Emergency Training Center Building Preparedness report highlights the vast diversity of American communities and households, indicating that a one-size-fits-all strategy is not… Read more »

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials announced Thursday their biggest fentanyl bust ever, saying they captured nearly 254 pounds (114 kilograms) of the deadly synthetic opioid from a secret compartment inside a load of Mexican produce heading into Arizona. The drug was found hidden Saturday morning in a compartment under the rear floor of a tractor-trailer after a scan during secondary inspection indicated “some anomalies” in the load, and the agency’s police dog team alerted officers to the presence of drugs, Nogales CBP Port Director Michael Humphries said.

“This is the most complicated setting we’ve ever experienced in order to stop an Ebola outbreak,” said Peter Salama, WHO deputy director-general for emergency preparedness and response. “At a minimum, it will take six further months to stop.”

The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services has published resources on fourth generation agents. These resources include: Safety Awareness for First On-Scene Responders Bulletin, Reference Guide for HazMat Response Teams, and Medical Management Guidelines.

If your agency does not have funding within its budget to cover much-needed equipment such as ppe for protecting your staff, trace detection machines to safely identify the substance, or Narcan kits to administer to those who have overdosed, here are several grant-funding options you should consider to cover these costs.

Receive 20% off on DQE’s On-Site Training Courses – just in time to plan for the coming year. Purchase your training by the end of January to qualify! DQE provides education that is practical and scalable to enhance your hospital’s strengths and build a sustainable state of readiness in your facility. Our programs are delivered by experienced instructors, customizable based on your local needs and in compliance with national standards and regulations.

What began Wednesday as a 911 call for an ill person at a West Toledo home turned into an extensive decontamination effort and the hospitalization of several police officers exposed to a suspected dangerous drug, including one officer who gave herself the opioid overdose-reversing drug naloxone.

At least 16 people, including seven Toledo police officers, were hospitalized late Tuesday after being exposed to a dangerous drug during a bust.

Most hospitals in the United States were not prepared for the outbreak of Ebola virus disease (Ebola) in 2014, with 71 percent of hospital administrators reporting that their facilities were unprepared to receive Ebola patients. By 2017, administrators from only 14 percent of hospitals reported their facilities were still unprepared for emerging infectious disease (EID) threats such as Ebola. Hospital actions to improve preparedness included updating emergency plans, training staff to care for patients with EIDs, purchasing additional supplies, and conducting EID-focused drills.

Kinnos Inc.’s flagship technology, Highlight®, is now being stocked by DQE for first response and emergency preparedness. Highlight®, a powder additive for bleach solutions, colorizes and increases the wettability of the disinfectant to ensure full coverage, and then fades in color to transparent to indicate when the contact time has been met and decontamination is complete. Highlight® has previously been used in Liberia and Guinea for the Ebola outbreak in West Africa and is currently used by first responders, biosafety and healthcare professionals, and non-government organizations for training and routine decontamination.