Prepare
For First Responders
Retired individuals may feel dependent on others in a time of need, but it is very important to ensure that you are safe when nobody else is there.
WildFires
Wildfires are one of the most prevalent and pressing issues facing those who live Los Angeles. When a wildfire does occur, several types of first responders, including firefights, EMT, police officers, and government officials, may have to leave their homes (and potentially their families) to respond or help coordinate response efforts. In addition to the general preparation necessary, first responders must also prepare their homes and families for the instances when they will not be with them. In addition to following the steps in the ‘Families’ section, here are specific actions for first responders to prepare their homes and families for when they cannot be with them during a fire
Earthquakes
Minor earthquakes occur frequently in Los Angeles, causing little to no damage, but there is a threat of a stronger earthquake happening which may cause severe damage. When an earthquake occurs, those who respond to earthquakes may have to respond immediately without returning home to their families. Moreover, they may have to leave their homes / families to respond or coordinate response efforts. There are general tips on how to prepare your homes and families for an Earthquake under the ‘Families’ section, but here are some more specific actions for first responders to prepare their homes and families for an earthquake:
Infectious Disease Outbreaks
In the event of a disease outbreak, individuals may seek treatment, sometimes in large numbers at once. Often times, the spread of these diseases can be rapid and easily contagious. The health of a first responder is crucial to providing aid for others. So it is important for first responders to be aware of many factors on how to properly treat such individuals and how to remain healthy at the same time. Here are a list of actions that first responders can take in order to safely and securely assist others while promoting the safety of themselves and their families.
Severe Weather
Floods and landslides are common across the United States and are caused by a variety of factors, including heavy precipitation, storms, or other natural disasters. In the event of such an emergency, first responders will often have to leave their family in order to assist the general public in emergency response. The health and safety of a first responder is crucial to providing aid and assisting others. Here are a list of actions that first responders can take in order to safely and securely assist others while promoting the safety of themselves and their families.
Terrorist attacks
Acts of terrorism are becoming increasingly prevalent globally and as such, it is essential to employ measures to better prepare for said incidents. First responders are the first to arrive at these tragic occurrences and are tasked with securing the area, determining the type of incident, identifying hazards, and determining what resources are needed. Allocation of resources and fast triage of patients is essential to providing care at these incidents. First responders should continue to read after action reports from multiple casualty incidents (MCIs) to learn from previous tragedies and continue to make strides towards improvement.
Chemical Emergencies
Responding to chemical emergencies requires rapid response. For many first responders, this can be difficult to do. Facing a disaster head-on, is a part of their daily lives, but is always unexpected. Likewise, first responders may find the following tips helpful for mitigating dangerous consequences of a chemical emergency.
Drug Crisis
Drug overdoses and substance abuse has sounded the alarms for the first responder community as drug morbidity continues to climb. In 2017 over 70,200 drug overdoses were reported which is almost 10% higher than the previous year. Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid 50x stronger than heroin is thought to be the culprit for the increased drug mortality. First responders must exercise extreme caution when treating patients who may have overdosed on fentanyl and employ body substance isolation precautions.