California hospitals are a critical element within the disaster medical response system and work collaboratively with local government, other health care providers and other agencies to plan, prepare for and respond to the needs of victims of natural or man-made disasters, bioterrorism, and other public health emergencies. Hospital emergency preparedness is a priority for government at all levels, as well as a key focus of regulatory and accrediting agencies.
The Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) and Southern California Edison have begun public safety power shut off programs in various California counties as part of their Community Wildfire Safety programs.
California is covered by earthquake fault zones and often tops the list of a hospital’s Hazards Vulnerability Analysis report. Earthquakes can result in structural damage, loss of utilities, loss of transportation corridors, loss of equipment and supplies, and a surge in patients. The Great ShakeOut is scheduled for October 18th, 2018. Hospitals are encouraged to register and participate in the Drop, Cover, and Hold On drill along with millions of others around the world.
When a disaster strikes, access to services becomes even more critical. And yet hospital staff and emergency services providers can be victims of that same disaster. ASPR TRACIE has released an updated version of its Tips for Retaining and Caring for Staff after a Disaster to guide facility executives in assisting staff through the recovery period.
OnSite Temp Housing is a leading provider in the United States for temporary housing rental from construction site and construction office rentals to natural disaster housing and portable homes.
This year the 2018 Statewide Medical and Health Exercise (SWMHE) will take place during the third week of November.
The SWMHE Program consists of objective driven exercise templates and generic exercise templates to assist jurisdictions, organizations and facilities participate in the yearly exercise. The program utilizes the Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) and aligns with Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP)/Hospital Preparedness Program (HPP) grant requirements.
The SWMHE Website has background information, exercise templates, references, resources, and more.
The Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal FIRE) serves and safeguards the people and protects the property and resources of California. The Cal Fire Website offers tips and information on hot topics, incident information, and social media links to keep you informed on the go.
The California Department of Health has shared the Hot Summer Weather Advisory to remind health care facilities to implement precautionary measures to protect patients in the heat, have a contingency plan in place, and report extreme conditions. Also included is a list of tips to stay cool during the hot days of summer.
