Volunteerism in Emergency Response

¶ … Responders/Volunteerism Emergency responders or first responders are faced with several situations including a HAZMAT or contagious disease situation. These responders are required to take appropriate measures when handling victims from such situations. One of the most important measures for all responders is to protect themselves through wearing the required personal protective equipment. Personal protective equipment is defined as clothing or respiratory apparatus that are developed to shield a person from physical, biological, and chemical hazards.

In HAZMAT or contagious disease situations, first responders need suitable personal protective equipment to protect themselves from hazardous and biological organisms that could threaten their lives. If first responders do not wear the required personal protective equipment when dealing with victims involved in a HAZMAT or contagious disease situation, they are exposed to hazardous materials and biological organisms. This exposure happens when they first arrive on the scene, through triage, and at the hospital for treatment.

Upon arrival at the scene, the first task of first responders is scene management, which involves isolating the scene to mitigate consequences. During this process, responders control movement of contaminated victims and limit the release of any hazardous materials or substances (Ramesh & Kumar, 2010, p.241). If first responders do not have the required personal protective equipment during scene management, they are unable to effectively control the release of hazardous substances or biological organisms since they are exposed to these hazards.

During triage, handling a HAZMAT or contagious disease situation involves decontamination and other measures towards saving lives through lessening the risk of exposure. Regardless of the nature of the mass casualty incident, triage is the most significant objective of response to a medical disaster. The lack of required personal protective equipment is such incidents make it difficult to monitor the time of responders in triaging. Safety officers have challenges in determining the need for replacing the triage team because of lack of suitable protective equipment.

Actually, the safety of these professionals from health risks is significantly threatened because of increased exposure. First responders are also exposed to numerous health and safety risks if they do not wear the required personal protective equipment at the hospital during treatment of victims involved in a HAZMAT or contagious disease situation. The hospital environment is a high risk area for health risks if suitable measures like wearing personal protective equipment are not undertaken to safeguard the individual from hazardous substances.

Guidelines for Incorporating Volunteers in a Response Situation Disaster and emergency response not only involves first responders but also involves citizen and medical professional volunteers who seek to help victims. The success of emergency response initiatives is dependent on the ability of first responders to effectively collaborate with volunteers to provide necessary services. This process entails developing suitable guidelines for incorporating volunteers in a response situation.

The first guideline is to establish a volunteer intake and management program that is conducted by a governmental or non-governmental organization involved in emergency response. This should.