homeland security forum responses(215)

Class,

This week we are learning about the process of primary care management for behavioral reactions during a weapons of mass destruction in the United States. With the question being posed to us of whether or not we feel the United States is prepared for primary care management during such an attack. Now with that being said here goes my take on the subject. I believe that the United States is doing a solid job of training and putting programs and procedures into place to handle a mass casualty situation or in this case a Weapon of Mass Destruction (WMD) attack. For example, back in week three we read about the Stafford Act which talked about all the dangers and hazards as well as who takes control of a major incident scenario (Blix, 2006). As well as local law enforcement using Incident Command Systems (ICS) where the most senior responder takes control of the scene, if they can contain then the State Law Enforcement is notified who has the Office of Emergency Services which includes the National Guard in their arsenal, then if the incident is beyond their capabilities then the federal agencies receive a notification which would most likely be the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) who has multiple programs and departs to handles incidents of this magnitude as well as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and they ultimately take point and rule the show (Blix, 2006). The government also has the Center for Disease Control (CDC) on standby incase the attack is biological in nature From the lesson this week it touched on how one of the best ways to avoid mass panic and inappropriate action from the general public is to make it publicly known and ways to help and stay safe (Blix, 2006). I feel this is a major factor due to the general public majority not having the training and expertise of the responders or military affiliates that are involved in the initial attack. These few facts show that our responders and affiliates are well trained. Now since the attacks on September 11, 2001 and the increase in anthrax shortly thereafter the government devoted a lot of money and resources into giving the proper training and supplies necessary to handle more chemical, biological, radiological attacks as well as the mental displacements that come along with a mass casualty scenario (Lacy, Benedek, 2003). So with the increased training, education and resources on CBRN attacks the better the chances of reducing the workload in such an event as well the prevention of burn out of the staff working to help the people (Lacy, Benedeck, 2003). The big problem I see with all this is the actual facilities and the amount of resources, I feel like the primary care systems will be over loaded with clientele and people needing medical treatment in a scenario of WMD or mass casualty attack, that I would be afraid they would not be able to meet the demand. The only way I can see getting around that is to make the training more known, so that people may respond quicker.

V/R,

Justin

Blix, H. (2006). Weapons of terror: Freeing the world of nuclear, biological and chemical arms.

Stockholm: WMDC.

Lacy, T.J. & Benedek, D.M. (2003). Terrorism and Weapons of mass destruction:

Managing the behavioral reaction in primary care. Southern Medical