Interoperability Among First Responders and Health Workers

Color-Coded Identification System for Medical Workers

The U.S. Dark Winter exercise in 2001, "Dark Winter tabletop Bioterrorism exercise" held at Andrews Air Force Base, highlighted the impact on pandemics and challenges health care systems and hospital facilities would encounter. These studies highlighted numerous significant gaps, including the connectivity between first responders and other emergency responders and hospital workers when they respond to pandemics, biological and chemical incidents. 

2001, the Rand Corporation studies and the U.S. Dark Winter exercise further highlighted the importance of partnership among first responders and public health workers, also recognized the impact on hospital facilities and challenges hospital workers face due to lack of personal identification. The National Library of Medicine An Innovation in Partnership Among First Responders and Public Health:

 

 

Who's who

The health care preparedness and response plan is the second phase of the CBRNE Triangle Project, which was started in 2018 and will be fully implemented in 2025. The purpose of this frontline health care worker's identification system is to individually recognize frontline workers as "Who’s Who”, such as physicians, nurses, food workers, office staff and janitorial staff, etc.

The health care workers' preparedness and response plan developed is about minimizing the chaotic environments when hospital facilities get inundated with an unexpected flood of casualties.

Also, to control the spread of viruses during the casualties handover process, the first responders (External Emergency Forces), who are transporting patients into hospitals, and the hospital emergency workers (Internal Emergency Forces) who are receiving casualties. This identification system also is designed to control and mitigate workers in the hospital facilities who are vulnerable to viruses to move away from professional staff such as physicians and nurses who are essential in saving lives.

 

 

 

The Color-Coded identification system for health care workers is developed as an arm band or wrist band that each color band assigned for a specific health care worker is based on their profession. The identification system comprises a unique design and a color.

The key feature of this identification system is that physicians, nurses, and other workers have the ability to distinctively identify who's who in the hospital vicinity. Also, the ability to quickly and visually identify the response team members and their specific duties and responsibilities. The identification system is designed with specific colors, numbers, and shapes of patches that can be worn over existing garments.

 

 

 

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Color-Coded Identification System

 

Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan for CBRNE Challenges - 2020 and Beyond

 

PPE for Emergency Response and Frontline Workers

It is critical to establish a CBRNE equipment standard (PPE Equipment) that can be used with confidence for the protection of saving lives and the health of emergency responders, frontline hospital workers, and the public.

To achieve these objectives, we assessed existing standards and procedures, including the available systems that need to be improved to protect emergency responders and health care workers.

Uncontrolled Release of Chemical Biological Agents

A chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosives (CBRNE) event is an uncontrolled release of chemicals, biological agents, radioactive and nuclear contamination into the air.

During such hazardous environments, the situation becomes chaotic, people become confused and seek assistance from emergency responders. The coronavirus outbreak incident demonstrates the hazardous environment the frontline workers encounter during catastrophic incidents.

 

Identify "Who's Who"

CBRNE consequences are not only limited to causalities who need medical help. These incidents also need armed emergency response personnel and procedures that may extend their capabilities to the maximum magnitude.

During such incidents, emergency responders need to be identified as Who’s Who and differentiate them from the general public and other workers who wear similar garments. This would provide first responders to build confidence among emergency groups, also with the public and vice-versa.

 

The Success of Emergency Operations

First responders play a pivotal role when they respond to complex emergencies. The coronavirus reveals that most emergency responders and frontline hospital workers feel they are unprepared and inadequately equipped for disasters involving CBRNE agents.

CBRNE events generate multiple disasters that need various emergency groups to participate and assist in several aspects of situations and casualties. Therefore, the success of emergency operations can only be achieved by exclusively identifying first responders as who's who.