[NRSKarenRN]

From ANA News:

September is National Preparedness Month

8/30/05
The American Nurses Association (ANA) has partnered with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the American Red Cross to promote National Preparedness Month (NPM) in September, encouraging all Americans to become better prepared for emergencies in their homes, businesses and schools.


Recommendations for emergency preparedness—including assembling a kit of emergency supplies and developing a family communications plan—can be found on the NPM Web site, www.ready.gov. The Web site also provides information on what to do in the event of a biological or chemical threat, explosion, nuclear blast, radiation threat or natural disaster, and advises using common sense—and whatever you have on hand—to take care of yourself and your loved ones when seconds count. The ANA encourages all nurses to develop a personal emergency preparedness plan and become advocates for preparedness plans in their communities. The www.ready.gov Web site includes a U.S. map containing points of contact for each state and territorial government.

[papawjohn]

Hey Karen

Either you have the same warped sense of humor that I do or there is such a huge irony here (in light of the Katrina/DHS ) that you could almost hear God laughing.

Papaw John

[SusanJean]

While I have not read these specific links, I recall in some similar links - and this recent disaster is reinforcement:

Prepare for up to 1 week (longer if possible) to be self-sufficent; it may take take that long for disaster relief to become available. In the event you need to evacuate, you can do so immediately w/ your supplies (and avoid the lines in stores.)

[crystalbluern]

I can't help but remember all those disaster movies where people had to help themselves get to safety. I know he may be in trouble with the law...but kudows to the young man who took the school bus and drove a busload of strangers (his people) to Texas. And why did the city not use all those buses to get the poor people who depend on public transportation out to Baton Rouge or somewhere north to safety. These buses are just sitting in a flooding parking lot.

[papawjohn]

Hey Y'all

We're down here on TampaBay and we have a 38' sailboat. You better believe we've done storm preparation!!! We are accustomed to tying the boat down til it looks like a giant spider on LSD built a web on it. We have made individually fitted storm shutters for every opening in the Condo. We are backpackers and have stoves, water-filters, water storage, lanterns and candles. I could go on about VHF radios and an inflatable 8' boat stored on the screen porch. You get the point. To a big degree--we're responsible for our own safety after a hurricane just like we would be if we were out at sea or far back in the wilderness--and that's OK cause we're used to it.

Here's something the forum might chat over. My hospital and my wife's LTC expect that we're going to go to work in the event of a storm. Even a Cat 5. Apparently, they can fire you for not being there--even if you're not scheduled.

Frankly--I don't think I'll be there. First, we'll be together--wherever we are--and I don't want to make her leave our well prepared Condo to cool her heels at my hosp until the AllClear. And I don't wanna go to her LTC for the same reason. And in the event of a Cat 4 or 5---we're going to visit family and friends up north until things are put back together. OUTAHERE!!! Esp after seeing how the NewOrleans disaster went down.

Does that seem unethical? Would a better, more ethical couple stay--go to their separate jobs?

What would y'all do?

Papaw John

[talaxandra]

I know this is a little off the original topic, but I had to respond to papawjohn. I've read this here before, and it still seems bizarre that you can be fired for not coming to work during an emergency, even when you're not rostered to work!
I'm single and child-free, accountable to nobody but me. If I were able to safely make my way to my hospital i would absolutely do so, but if I had dependants I really don't think that they would be anything but my first priority.
I think that putting others (strangers) first is admirable, but I don't think you can or should legislate that people do so.
So no, I don't think that's unethical

[SusanJean]

Originally Posted by talaxandra

I know this is a little off the original topic, but I had to respond to papawjohn. I've read this here before, and it still seems bizarre that you can be fired for not coming to work during an emergency, even when you're not rostered to work!
I'm single and child-free, accountable to nobody but me. If I were able to safely make my way to my hospital i would absolutely do so, but if I had dependants I really don't think that they would be anything but my first priority.
I think that putting others (strangers) first is admirable, but I don't think you can or should legislate that people do so.
So no, I don't think that's unethical

I agree that family is always the first priority. Having said that, that would be one of the first parts of disaster planning: assuring family safety.

I am fully aware that the medical profession often dictates that you put pts first, in an emergency. My family has discussed this (presently a student) and is aware that in an emergency I may have to work. There is also the possibility that my husband can be forced to work (in extreme emergencies veterinarians can be called in to treat humans). Our emergency planning has now modified to take that into account.

We have had an emergency plan in place for years -- I will tell you that it makes my kids feel safer. There is the initial anxiety of discussing it, but when bad weather hits, or we loose power/water/etc, they know what to do and that we have resourses to ride it out.

I do have to repack the "to go" kit, as my kids have grown a foot and the change of clothes would no longer fit them...

[crystalbluern]

Has anyone seen or heard much about the nurses who were stuck in the New Orleans hospitals trying to keep patients alive in the dark? I saw a brief clip of a male nurse with a female nurse and her teenage daughter, who were walking out and stopped for first aid. "It was a life changing experience", she cried, and the male nurse was also crying. I can't help remembering how traumatized first responders can be in wide spread crisis situations, like Oklahoma City and New York.

[prmenrs]

One part of the hospitals disaster plan is a call back list. The assumption is that in a major disaster, extra people will be needed to care for the pts you've already got, prepare them for possible evacuation, and be ready to take incoming trauma pts.

A lot of what some of the ICU nurses did in Katrina was play ventilator--ambu-bag their pts cuz there was no electricity. If you're a ventilator, you can't do much else, so you need another nurse for meds, etc.

Obviously, everyone needs to do what they need to do, but I guarantee they're not gonna be too happy w/you if you don't (but are able) to come in. If you cannot come in, I don't see how they can fire you if you're somewhere hanging onto a tree or treading water!!

[plato353]

its very laudatory to post the article about being prepared in september.suffice to say whats transpired in louisiana and surrounds even until today is an awful human tragedy.i would go as far to say having watched the awfull and devistating events from my lounge in here in the uk i am in aw that the disaster plan was not executed for a few days.however
these are troubled times that we live in so every day we should be aware of a potential tragedy.

what seems odd is the department of homeland security whos inept attitude and overall bureaucacy led to a stiffled approach to the whole tragedy that unfolded in front of them. you would argue they were the disaster in the making( instead of the planners) and the folk on the ground suffered. for those who have never worked in a third world country and seen natural disasters its being broadcast live from luisiana.

as for my future commander and chief: you guessed it he was on another holiday

MY THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS TO THOSE WHO ARE SUFFERING AND DESPONDENT
plato353