--The importance of creating a practical and sustainable response system
The Emergency Response Plan-- what does it mean? To some, it means an evacuation plan; to others, the plan to use an AED to save the life of a sudden cardiac arrest victim; to some, a plan for all medical emergencies; the disaster plan; and to still others, the plan required to meet local fire regulations in order to pass fire department inspection.
In reality, we need an emergency response plan for all foreseeable emergencies. One pattern of viewing emergency response plans is as a continuum, from the least complex emergency to the most complex. The sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) emergency is the least complex; followed by all medical emergencies; then non-medical emergencies, such as fire, bombs, active shooters; and finally the most complex - disasters.
While SCAs are among the most time-critical emergencies, they are the least complex, because the training has been well defined, it is easily obtained, and the equipment required is minimal. There is only one level of responder within the organization for an SCA response and all responders move toward the emergency-the afflicted victim of SCA. Other medical emergencies can use the same basic emergency response plan developed for an SCA emergency, but the responders require an additional level of training and equipment. There is most commonly only one level of responders, who move toward the emergency-the co-worker experiencing an acute illness or injury. The duration of the required response is generally less than an hour.
Non-medical emergencies are more complex because they require multiple levels of responders, with different types of training. While the general movement during a non-medical emergency is to move the workforce away from the inciting event, other levels of responders will remain near the emergency to assist with workforce evacuation issues, such as disabled coworkers requiring evacuation assistance, or personnel who are unaware of the need to evacuate. After the initial evacuation effort, responders may be required to assist with secondary medical and non-medical emergencies. For example, a co-worker who cannot evacuate because the bookshelf fell on him requires extrication, splinting of his broken bone, and an assisted evacuation. The duration of response for non-medical emergencies can be significantly greater than an hour. Disasters are categorized when the actual or perceived threat to personnel and property is of significant magnitude or time requiring days of involvement by trained responders.
