Planning.Emergency preparedness response

Finally, a number of nontraditional practice sites have been described in which pharmacist have participated in natural disaster relief or as part of a humanitarian effort relief team. These nontraditional practices have included a pharmacy consultative service for wilderness emergency drug planning, pharmacy involvement in emergency preparedness/response, the provision of pharmaceutical services at a medical site after Hurricane Andrew in Florida, and the experience of several pharmacists providing service in Bosnia-Herzegovina. ° ... 

Improved Operating Procedures 11. Segregate process waste waters from stormwater systems. 12. Optimize the frequency of tank and equipment cleaning. 13. Prevent solids and oily wastes from entering the drainage system. 14. Establish and maintain an emergency preparedness and response plan. 

For the chlor-alkali industry, an emergency preparedness and response plan is mandatory for potential uncontrolled chlorine and other releases. Carbon tetrachloride is sometimes used to scrub nitrogen trichloride (formed in the process) and to maintain its levels below 4% to avoid fire and explosion. Substitutes for carbon tetrachloride may have to be used, as the use of carbon tetrachloride may be banned in the near future due to its carcinogenicity. 

Prepare and implement an emergency preparedness and response plan. Such a plan is required because of the large quantities of ammonia and other hazardous materials stored and handled on site. 

A pesticide formulation plant should prepare and implement an emergency preparedness and response plan that takes into account neighboring land uses and the potential consequences of an emergency or accidental release of harmful substances. Measures to avoid the release of harmful substances should be incorporated in the design, operation, maintenance, and management of the plant. Pollution control equipment employed in this sector include baghouses for removal of particulate matter and carbon adsorption for removal of VOCs. 

Employers will need to select how many different emergency preparedness or third lines of defense they plan to have, develop the necessary emergency plans and procedures, appropriately train employees in their emergency duties and responsibilities, and then implement these lines of defense. 

Department of Health and Human Services Health and Medical Services Support Plan for the Federal Response Acts of Chemical/Biological (C/B) Terrorism. Washington, D.C. Office of Emergency Preparedness (OEP), of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), undated. 

Residences, churches, and small businesses may also want to consider holding routine emergency response practice drills to ensure that family members and employees know how to implement the emergency preparedness plan. 

All staff should receive initial training and annual refresher training on the contents of the emergency preparedness plan. Bringing in an emergency response specialist to assist with preparation of the emergency preparedness plan and provide staff training is an option that should seriously be considered. 

IAEA, Emergency Response Planning and Preparedness for Transport Accidents Involving Radioactive Materials, Safety Series 87, International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, 1988. 

Central to all emergency preparedness programs is a written emergency response plan (ERP). An ERP obviously is a key element of emergency preparedness, yet it is only one procedural part of a systematic process that includes the following sequential steps ... 

Disaster response, including national plans, must be routinely updated to incorporate new presidential directives and legislative changes and to reflect ongoing plan improvements and enhanced response capabilities, especially as a result of lessons learned. Because of the ever-changing nature of disaster response, published documents soon become outdated. Nurses need to know where they can obtain the most up-to-date information. Guidance to online resources on disaster response and emergency preparedness are provided. 

Based on your past and current experience and education, what do you see as your role in an emergency preparedness and response plan ... 

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