An Integrated Civilian Medical Response to Mass Casualty Incidents
Improving emergency response in communities worldwide.
CHALLENGE:
Planning to prepare for and sustain continuous medical services during times of crisis following an intentional or naturally occurring complex medical emergency.
SOLUTION:
In 2003, CIMERC and a Latin-based company partnered to enhance civilian medical emergency preparedness and response efforts by providing a web-based Hospital Self-Assessment Tool and Strategies for Incident Preparedness in Spanish for use in Argentina. Subject matter experts reviewed the tools, and recommended adjustments to the documents to ensure their cultural and contextual integrity. These modified tools were made electronically available to the response community.
As a result of the successful adaptation in Argentina, Strategies for Incident Preparedness (SIP) and the web-based Hospital Self-Assessment Tool have been further recognized as valuable resources in all-hazard preparedness efforts. As such, CIMERC's partnerships and endeavors in international preparedness have expanded to include Mexico.
POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS:
CIMERC, presently a national biodefense repository, will continue to develop an international component that will serve to complement both domestic and international emergency response practices.