This week, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released the National Response Framework, a successor to the National Response Plan. DHS said the NRF, which focuses on response and short-term recovery, articulates the doctrine, principles, and architecture by which our nation prepares for and responds to all-hazard disasters across all levels of government and all sectors of communities.
CDC and partners have issued the National Action Agenda for Public Health Legal Preparedness as a resource that public health officials, policy makers, and partners may use in assessing and improving their jurisdictions' legal preparedness for public health emergencies.
MIT researchers have uncovered a critical difference between flu viruses that infect birds and humans which has to do with whether a virus can bind to one specific shape of receptor on the surface of human respiratory cells.
We see horrifying images everywhere: devastating ice storms, hurricanes, traffic pile-ups, crumbled buildings and sinkholes, mall shootings, and sometimes catastrophic workplace accidents. Are your workers really prepared to be safe? (And what about the looming threat of a widespread pandemic flu?) We are living in an instant-access, drive-by world these days. When we need a set of gloves, a first aid kit, a faceshield, or a respirator, we stop by the local hardware or big-box store and get it immediately, or we order online and await delivery within hours. Viewing icebound Oklahoma landscapes last month should have given us pause: What if there are long-term, serious power and traffic interruptions?
The free, 10-page guide provides information business owners need, developers say.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued a warning to consumers confronted with ice storms and severe winter weather: When there's a power outage, exercise caution when using portable generators.
The agreement allows the two organizations to share expertise and recruit nurses nationwide to assist the American Red Cross with relief operations during disasters.
The public health service of King County/Seattle prepared the guide because homeless people face significant disadvantages during health crises.
Fire detection systems are designed to discover fires early in their development when time will still be available for the safe evacuation of occupants. Early detection also plays a significant role in protecting the safety of emergency response personnel. Property loss can be reduced and downtime for the operation minimized through early detection because control efforts are started while the fire is still small.
The Congressional Budget Office estimates $117 million in additional spending in 2008-12 but $157 million in increased revenue from higher civil penalties.
At least 20 million people, including 500,000 U.S. citizens, died in the 1918 influenza pandemic. Today, as many as 36,000 Americans continue to die each year of what's commonly known as the flu and more than 200,000 are hospitalized. Most outbreaks in North America occur between October and May. The peak season is usually late December to early March.
The average $1,023 residential premium will rise by $84 per year.
OSHA is seeking public comment on its proposal (Docket No. OSHA-2007-0079) to extend the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) approval of the information collection requirements specified in its Standard on Fire Brigades (29 CFR 1910.156).
The Nov. 15 report says teams and equipment to minimize the consequences of a terrorist nuclear attack and measure contamination levels are not dispersed as DOE claims.
There is no single common substance or mistake involved in dust explosions. Dust explosions occur in a wide variety of industries and applications. One common thing that is a major part of the secondary explosions is housekeeping. Typically, there's a process vessel inside a facility that is processing a combustible material. If you have an explosion in an unprotected vessel (the primary explosion), the vessel is destroyed or ruptured and a fireball is released into the larger process area.
During a natural disaster, it is common for power to go out of service. Part of the CDC Hurricane Preparedness podcast series, "Proper Use of Candles During a Power Outage" is a free podcast that issues a quick alert to homeowners on how to avoid the risk of a house fire following a natural disaster.
As the medical community continues to find new ways to maintain disaster readiness, it's no longer just the Boy Scouts of America motto to always "Be Prepared." In that light, Cornell University took a unique approach in preparing its attendees at its latest medical conference: they went hiking.
Following a national telephone survey of small businesses that found almost a quarter of respondents indicating they are planning on taking steps to prepare their businesses for disaster, the American Red Cross and FedEx Corp. have announced that they will create tools to help.