relief. Healthcare providers should register in advance of an emergency, but they can also register during an emergency. This system recognizes properly licensed individuals so they can transcend state lines and avoid reciprocity issues with licenses. A total of 19 states have adopted UEVHPA. Healthcare Implications : Knowing when a disaster has been declared and deactivated is important for applying the appropriate standard of care. In the emergency, the healthcare provider will be immune from lawsuits unless their actions are willful, wanton, grossly negligent, or criminal. Lack of preparation and education on the part of the facility and practitioners may not be an excuse to limit liability. Case study Beth was stunned at how the last week progressed. She had never imagined that there would be any kind of terrorist attack in her little corner of Nevada. She knew that, with all she had learned, there was still much to learn. She planned to set time Conclusion It is highly likely that all healthcare providers will be involved, at some point, in a disaster or terrorist attack. While it is almost unthinkable to contemplate, the answer for all is to be prepared and hope that one never needs to respond to such a heinous act or any disaster. Preparation, the key to respond in a disaster or terrorist attack, includes personal preparedness. Having a disaster plan for oneself and one’s family, including pets, with enough supplies, food, medications, and water for 3 days, is just the beginning. The American Red Cross offers insight for personal preparedness on its website on how to prepare for an emergency (http://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare- for-emergencies). It also offers continuing education courses on disaster response. FEMA’s website provides information for personal preparedness located at https://www.ready.gov/make- a-plan. Their training is free and focused on all phases of disaster response by profession or personal need. Professional preparedness and training are crucial for healthcare responders. There are many specific types of disasters and
Self-Assessment Quiz Question #10 The Public Readiness Emergency Preparedness Act provides a healthcare responder with which of the following? a. Protection from a lawsuit in all volunteer healthcare activities performed. b. Ability to isolate the individual for 72 hours without due process of the law. c. Immunity from suit if the provider does not act with willful or wanton disregard. d. Good Samaritan-type protection in all healthcare situations. aside to do FEMA training online and volunteer with her local Red Cross Disaster Action Team. She wanted to be prepared for the next disaster, manmade or natural, terrorist attack or not. She needed to be ready. terrorist acts that the healthcare provider needs to be prepared to respond to, no matter where they work. General emergency, disaster, and terrorist response training are available at https:// www.fema.gov/training, all free training and some of which is needed for disaster response with such groups as the American Red Cross, Community Emergency Response Teams, and the Medical Reserve Corps. These courses can be taken online. Table 5 provides a list of websites to aid the healthcare provider in being personally and professionally prepared. The key to responding to any disaster or terrorist attack is being prepared. Knowing you and your family are safe should be the foundation allhealthcare providers start with, followed by professional training and continuing education. Responding to or being involved in a terrorist attack ordisaster is never going to become second nature. However, knowing the basics will ensure that the healthcare provider can function effectivelywhen a disaster or a terrorist strikes, helping to save lives and minimize losses.
Table 5: Recommended Disaster Websites for United States Nurses Including the District of Columbia The United States and Individual States Suggested Resources Website URL United States Disaster-Related Sites American Red Cross https://www.redcross.org/ Association of State & Territorial Dental Directors
https://www.astdd.org/oral-health-and-medical-response-teams-committee/
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
https://emergency.cdc.gov/ https://emergency.cdc.gov/han/ https://www.ready.gov/citizen-corps https://www.nvfc.org/programs/firecorps/
Citizen Corps
Fire Corps
Lippincott Nursing Center: Disaster Relief Nursing and Emergency Preparedness (Click on the Articles and Publications link, Focus On, and Disaster Recovery) Medical Reserve Corps National Disaster Medical System Neighborhood Watch Provider Self-care Toolkit
www.nursingcenter.com
https://aspr.hhs.gov/MRC/Pages/index.aspx
https://www.phe.gov/Preparedness/responders/ndms/Pages/default.aspx
https://www.nnw.org/resources-0
https://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/treat/care/toolkits/provider/
USDHS: FEMA
https://www.fema.gov/
USDHS: Ready.gov
https://www.ready.gov/voluntary-organizations-active-disaster https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/emergencypreparedness/index.html
USDOL: OSHA: Emergency Preparedness and Response
Volunteers in Police Service http://www.nnw.org/volunteers-police-service-vips
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