Brian J. Maguire, Dr.PH,
MSA
Clinical Associate Professor
Associate Graduate Program Director
Department of Emergency Health Services
University of Maryland, Baltimore County
maguire@umbc.edu
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Maguire
BJ, Dean S, Bissell RA, Walz BJ. Bumbak D. Epidemic and Bioterrorism
preparation among EMS systems. Prehospital
and Disaster Medicine. 2007; 22(3): 237–242.
Introduction
The purpose of this research was to determine the preparedness of EMS
agencies in one U.S. state to deal with a massive epidemic event,
regardless of its natural or intentional causation.
Methods
Data were collected primarily through telephone interviews with EMS
officials throughout the state. To provide a comparison, nine
out-of-state emergency services agencies were invited to participate.
Results
EMS agencies from nine of 23 counties (39%) provided responses to some
or all of the questions in the telephone survey. Seven of the nine
out-of-state agencies provided responses to the survey. Most of the EMS
agencies do not have broad, formal plans for response to large scale
bio-terror or pandemic events.
Conclusions and Recommendations
The findings indicate that EMS agencies are fundamentally unprepared
for a large scale bioterrorism or pandemic event. The few current plans
that do exist rely mostly on mutual aid from agencies that may be
incapable of providing such aid.
EMS agencies must be prepared to handle a response to these incidents
without assistance from any agencies outside their local community. In
order to accomplish that they must begin planning and develop close
working relationships with public health, health care and elected
officials within their local communities.
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