Medical / Public Health Components and Disaster Responses: NIMS

NIMS Medical/Public Health Components and Disaster Responses

The objective of this study is to discuss the NIMS medical and public health components and disaster responses in terms of its logistics, inventory, personnel credentialing, emergency operations center and ICS 206, Medial Plan.

Incident Management

Incident management is reported to include on-site incident management and multiagency coordination using the Incident Command Systems (ICS) structure which involves maintaining 'a continuation flow of critical information among multijurisdictional and multidisciplinary emergency responders, command posts, agencies and the governmental officials for the duration of the emergency response operation in compliance with National Incident Management System (NIMS)" and to "coordinate activities above the field level by prioritizing demands for competing resources, thereby assisting with coordination of operation in the field." (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2009, p. 24) Also requires during incident management operations is communication among responders that is timely in nature so that there is efficient management of "response, services and available assets." (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2009, p. 24) Finally, there is a requirement of monitoring of "critical resources, logistics and distribution." (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2009, p. 24)

II. Population Safety and Health

Ensuring the safety and health of the population includes ensuring the safety and health of responders whether they be "volunteers…specialized personnel" and this includes "equipment, training and other resources that protect against all hazards, prevent illness and injuries" that occur from exposures that are avoidable in nature during the incident response mission. In addition it is necessary to ensures that a safe and secure environment is maintained for the public both during and following an incident. Included in safety and health precautions for the public is individual evacuation and ensuring that shelters are in place. Mass care is another requirement and this involves the provision of "immediate and accessible shelters and supportive services" to individuals who have become displaced and who cannot return home due to some type of possible or real health incident. Environmental health is also a consideration and this involves the identification and mitigation of any health situations that are environmentally related. Involved as well is monitoring and safeguarding including "vector surveillance, building environments, outdoor environments and hazardous materials." (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2009, p. 27) Finally, potable water, wastewater and solid waste disposal must be ensured in the operations of incident management.

III. Logistics

The logistics section of incident management includes sic primary units which fulfill functional requirements including the following stated sections:

(1) The Supply Unit -- this unit is reported to receive, store, and process all resources, personnel and supplies related to incident management (U.S. Department of Homeland Security, 2008, paraphrased);

(2) The Ground Support Unit: this unit provides all transportation on the ground during an incident and is also tasked with the maintenance and supply of vehicles including the usage records and the development of traffic plans for the incident (U.S. Department of Homeland Security, 2008, paraphrased);

(3) The Facilities Unit: this unit is responsible for setting up, maintaining and demobilizing all the facilities utilized in the support of incident operations. As well, this unit makes provision of facility maintenance and security services that are needed for incident operations support (U.S. Department of Homeland Security, 2008, paraphrased);

(4) The Food Unit: this unit makes determinations of food and water needs, coordinates menus, orders needed food and makes provision of facilities to cook, serve and maintain food service. In addition, this unit is responsible for managing security and safety concerns related to food provision (U.S. Department of Homeland Security, 2008, paraphrased);

(5) The Communications Unit: this unit's primary responsibilities encompass the effective communications in terms of acquisition, planning, setup and maintenance as well as communications equipment accounting (U.S. Department of Homeland Security, 2008, paraphrased);

(6) The Medical Unit: this unit responsibilities include provision medical services that are both effective and efficient to incident personnel. (U.S. Department of Homeland Security, 2008, paraphrased)

IV. Inventory

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (2008) states that resources are obtained through acquisition procedures needed to support the requirements of operations. Stated as examples are those of "mission tasking, contracting, drawing from existing stocks, and making small purchases." (U.S. Department of Homeland Security, 2008, p. 3) Stated to be a specific part of the process of inventorying is the determination of if an organization needs to ensure that specific items are warehoused before an incident. This involves the acquisition of material resources prior to an incident or through "just in time" using preincident contracting. Inventorying also involves managing inventories with specific shelf-life or those that have requirements of special maintenance. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (2008) reports that preparedness activities including credentialing, resource typing and inventorying are all "conducted on a continual basis to ensure that resources are ready to be mobilized when called to an incident." (p. 35)