Packing and Preparedness for Disaster and First Response Teams

This episode is the second of our special recorded segments from EMS Today 2014 in Washington, DC. We were in the ProMed Network podcast studio sponsored generously by Physio-Control, JEMS, and PennWell. Disaster Podcast hosts Jamie Davis, the Podmedic and Sam Bradley are back with our episode partners from Paragon Medical Education Group. Jim Logan and Dr. Joe Holley bring their vast experience and knowledge to this segment yet again as we discuss tough things local responder preparedness as well as USAR and DMAT team members’ preparedness.

What kind of things do our specialty response teams need to bring with them to respond to these types of emergencies? Joe and Jim share their insights into what they need to bring with them to respond. A whole lot, as it turns out, everything from eye drops to a survival shovel. They have to be ready to leave within 6 hours of notification so their bags have to be packed and ready to go on a moment’s notice.

Joe also talks about what local responders need to have in their homes to be ready to go with their own response preparedness. He points out that MREs (Meals – Ready to Eat) and other survival gear are readily available now through online resources like Amazon. Jamie is asked how he and his family prepare for being isolated by winter or summer storms in the mid-Atlantic area of the U.S. He shares his resources that he keeps on hand for those times when he might be without power for a period of time.

Again, a special thank-you to Paragon Medical Education Group for their continued support of this podcast as our partners in this endeavor to bring disaster medicine to you. Check out their page and educational resources that can help your system be more prepared for what happens in your area.

Subscribe to the Disaster Podcast –

—–