Last week, we explained why emergency preparedness and contingency planning are mandatory and discussed the first two pre-planning steps - forming the team and developing a mission statement. When preparing for an emergency, there are three main areas of concern: response, recovery and restoration. This week, we'll look at response.

Response

This part of your plan outlines immediate actions in responding to an emergency. It is important to remember that when preparing the plan, you should assume a total communications failure. Your plan must address how communication will be achieved in that event.

Health and life safety, of course, should be your most important concern and you need to consider:

Quick and safe evacuation

Quick and safe removal from the affected area is usually critical. Ensure that building occupants are familiar with posted evacuation floor plans and know how to safely exit the premises and go to the established assembly/shelter area.

Throughout your facility, post signs for designated shelter areas. Signage should indicate where workers and visitors are to go for shelter in the event of severe weather or other emergency, as determined by your chief or senior emergency coordinator.

Caring for victims

Serious injuries or fatalities are another aspect you must address in your plan. Outline how to set up a makeshift triage area and how to triage victims according to the severity of their injuries. (Triage means to sort by priority.) For example: Require that first aid be applied to those who have broken bones, avulsions or missing extremities. Efforts should be made to sustain life until appropriate medical personnel arrive. Victims who die as a result of their injuries must be covered until medical personnel arrive.

The response part of your plan should include a list of all employees who are certified in CPR and first aid. This list should be posted in employee-populated areas, such as break rooms, and include the telephone extensions of the certified employees.

Access to supplies

Place disaster kits at various locations within your facility (at least one per floor) in an area that does not require key access. It?s important to include the location of the kits on your evacuation floor plan.

Conclusion

The response part of your plan must be written and practiced. Train employees to be responsive in emergency situations. Frequent drills for fire, tornadoes, earthquakes and bomb threats will help instill the process. Next week, we'll look at the second key area of concern in emergency planning: recovery.

GO FIGURE

By Catherine Jones

What does this figure represent?

35.9 million

That's the number of Americans who suffer from seasonal allergic rhinitis (hay fever).

Here are some other statistics associated with hay fever and perennial allergic rhinitis (sensitivity to indoor allergens):

16.7 million - number of visits to healthcare providers attributed to both forms of allergic rhinitis, annually

$6 billion - estimated overall cost of allergic rhinitis in the US in 1996

If you or your workers notice an increase in coughs, sneezes, congestion or itchiness of the nose, roof of mouth, throat, eyes and ears, at this time of year, allergic rhinitis could be the culprit. The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) offers these tips:

- Stay indoors between 5am and 10am, if possible. This is when tree and plant pollens are the most active.

- Avoid going outdoors on windy days.

- Avoid going outdoors after heavy rains, which produce a high mold spore count.

- Spring clean your home. Over the winter months, dust and mold accumulate on windows and shelves and in vents. These provoke perennial allergic rhinitis symptoms.

(Source: The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, www.aaaai.org.)

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