43 Assisting with Medical Emergencies and Emergency Preparedness Lesson 3: Emergency Preparedness

Lesson Objectives Upon completion of this lesson, students should be able to … Define and spell the terms to learn for this chapter. Explain the concept of and the medical assistant’s role in emergency preparedness.

The Medical Assistant’s Role During an Emergency Be knowledgeable in the area of emergency preparedness Know how to respond in the event of a human-caused disaster, such as a terrorist event, and to a natural disaster, such as a hurricane Remaining calm in the event of an emergency is paramount to the success of handling it

Preparing for an Earthquake Check for hazards around the facility Identify safe places indoors and outdoors Educate yourself and your coworkers Have disaster supplies on hand Develop an emergency communication plan Help your community get ready

Checking Facility Hazards Make sure shelves are fastened securely to walls Keep large or heavy objects on lower shelves Store any breakable items in low, closed cabinets equipped with locks Avoid hanging heavy items on walls above where patients will sit or lie Secure overhead light fixtures

Checking Facility Hazards Repair any defective electrical wiring or leaky gas connections Strap water heaters to wall studs and bolt them to the floor Repair any deep cracks in ceilings or foundations Store all flammable products on the bottom shelves of closed cabinets with locks

Safe Places to Go During an Earthquake Under sturdy furniture Against an inside wall Away from glass that could shatter Away from bookcases or furniture that could fall over In the open, away from buildings, trees, telephone or electrical lines, overpasses, or elevated expressways

Disaster Supplies Flashlight and extra batteries Portable battery-operated radio and extra batteries First-aid kit and manual Emergency food and water Extra blankets

Warning Signs of a Tornado Thunderstorms with heavy rain and large hail Dark, almost greenish colored skies Dark low-lying clouds Tornado watch indicates that the weather conditions are right for a tornado and a tornado is possible. Tornado warning indicates that a tornado has been sighted and all persons are to take shelter immediately.

Safety During a Tornado Often the basement of a building or the lowest-level of a structure If a basement is not available, it is advisable to seek shelter in a closet or interior hallway Above all else, stay away from windows, doors, and outside walls Avoid elevators and use the stairs to reach the lowest level of the facility

Fire Preparedness Equip the office with properly working smoke alarms placed on every level of the building, either on the ceiling or high on the walls Equip every room with a smoke detector and test and clean once per month Replace batteries in every alarm at least once per year, and replace every individual alarm once every 10 years Know the escape routes to use in the event of a fire

Fire Preparedness Ensure that escape ladders are available if the office is located above the first level Store flammable items in well-ventilated areas Repair any defective wiring to avoid a fire hazard Locate fire extinguishers throughout the office and train staff on their use

Escaping a Fire If a person’s clothes are on fire, that person should stop, drop, and roll until the fire is extinguished Check closed doors for heat before opening If the door is hot, it should not be opened, and another route of escape should be sought – If the door is cool, it should be opened slowly

Escaping a Fire Crawl low under any smoke on the way to the exit and close doors as they are passed through to delay the spread of fire Once out of the building, do not attempt to re-enter until or unless the fire department declares that action to be safe

In the Event of a Flood Listen to the radio for information Move to higher ground If there is time before evacuating, disconnect any electrical equipment and shut off utilities at their main valves When evacuating, be careful not to walk through moving water

Preparing for a Hurricane Secure the windows using storm shutters or plywood Trees and shrubs around the office should be well trimmed Secure rain gutters and clean clogged ones If the medical office is to be evacuated before a hurricane, listen to the radio or television for information provided by local emergency management personnel During the hurricane, listen to the radio or television for information

Types of Terrorist Attacks Explosions Biological threats Nuclear blast

Questions to Ask if a Bomb Threat Is Made When is the bomb going to explode? Where is the bomb right now? What does it look like? What kind of bomb is it? What will cause it to explode? Provide information to the police immediately!

Biological Threats Aerosols – Agents are dispersed into the air, forming a mist that may drift for miles Animals – Some diseases are spread by insects or animals Food and water contamination – Some agents are placed in the food or water supply Person-to-person – Some spread of agents is possible via direct contact among people

In the Event of a Biological Attack Be prepared to move away from the contaminant quickly Wash with soap and water Contact authorities Listen to the radio for instructions Remove and bag clothing if contaminated

In the Event of a Nuclear Blast Take cover as quickly as possible; below ground if the building has a basement Remain in a safe location, listening to the radio for instructions Do not look at the flash or fireball Lie flat on the ground with the head covered Seek shelter as quickly as possible

Role of the Medical Assistant in a Mock Environmental Exposure Event Aid in evacuation plans Triage patients to determine which patients require immediate attention Assist in first-aid response for wounded individuals Administer tetanus and other vaccines under the direction of a physician Facilitate order and organization in the midst of chaos Implement and follow through on an environmental safety plan

Questions? 23