1. Lesson 3 Emergency Preparedness
Chapter 43: Assisting with Medical Emergencies and Emergency Preparedness
Lesson 3
Emergency Preparedness
© 2009 Pearson Education

2. Define and spell the terms to learn for this chapter.
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.
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© 2009 Pearson Education

3. 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.
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4. 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.
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Can happen any time without any warning.
Prepare before it happens.
6 steps according to Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

5. Checking Facility Hazards
Make sure shelves are fastened securely to walls.
Do not place 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
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6. 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.
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7. 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.
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8. Educate yourself and your coworkers
Contact the local EMS office or American Red Cross chapter for information.
Teach all staff members how and when to turn off gas, electricity, and water.
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9. Disaster Supplies Flashlight and extra batteries.
Portable battery-operated radio and extra batteries.
First-aid kit and manual.
Emergency food and water.
Extra blankets
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See Figure 43-33

10. Develop an emergency communication Plan
In case staff members are separated from one another during an earthquake, have a plan in place for reuniting after the disaster.
Define the expectations of each staff member
Who will escort patients from the building?
Who will check the treatment rooms?
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11. Help your community get ready
Provide literature for patients on how to prepare for an earthquake
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See Procedure 43-10

12. Tornados According to FEMA, most violent storms occurring in nature.
Very erratic, and can strike with very little or no warning signs.
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13. 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.
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14. 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.
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Again importance is to educate yourself, fellow office staff, and the community about safety precautions.

15. Fires More than 4,000 Americans die each year
More than 25,000 are injured each year
Spreads quickly and typically no time to gather belongings or make telephone calls
Takes 2 minutes to become life threatening
Takes 5 minutes to engulf a building
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16. 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.
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
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17. 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.
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 reenter until or unless the fire department declares that action to be safe.
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Check door with back of hand to feel the top of the door, doorknob, and the crack between the door and the door frame.

18. 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.
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FEMA declares floods to be the most common hazard in the United States.
Can develop over days or be a flash flud.

19. 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.
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Strike with little warning, although most will allow for some advance warning.

20. Types of Terrorist Attacks
Explosions
Biological threats
Nuclear blast
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21. 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!
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22. 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.
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23. 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
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May have a high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter.

24. 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.
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25. 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.
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26. Summary
Each team member needs to know what procedures to follow in a medical emergency.
Contacting the physician and EMS, if necessary, is part of the office protocol.
Good Samaritan laws were established to encourage health care professionals to volunteer in emergencies without fear of financial liability.
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27. Questions?