Description of event Floods are the most common natural disasters. They cause greater mortality than any other natural disaster. Worldwide, floods account for approximately 40% of natural disasters. In the…

Description of event Earthquakes are among the most devastating natural disasters. In many regions of the United States imperceptible earthquakes occur frequently. Historically, massive earthquakes have led to some of…

Description of event The American Meteorological Society defines a tornado as “a violently rotating column of air, in contact with the ground, either pendant from a cumuliform cloud or underneath…

Description of event Hurricanes, cyclones, and typhoons are all tropical weather systems formed by overly warm water in tropical oceans. Each, characteristically, exhibits rotary circulation and can be described as…

In a terrorist incident, medical and rescue personnel will respond to locate, extricate, treat, and transport patients. Simultaneously, law enforcement resources will respond to investigate, interview, and collect evidence. Medical…

This text is designed as a comprehensive study of disaster medicine that also includes ready-made resources for the practitioner of disaster medicine. The goal of this section is to provide…

A SWAT team is a group of highly trained individuals used by their respective agency to complete missions that are beyond the scope and expertise of the general officer. The…

It can be said that the primary role of any tactical emergency medical support (TEMS) provider is to render aid so that others may remain in the fight. Mission success…

Tactical emergency medical support (TEMS) draws its roots from military medics in conflicts in the Napoleonic wars. Later conflicts, such as World Wars I and II, the Korean War, and…

Bioterrorism can be broadly defined as the deliberate use of microbial agents or their toxins as weapons. The broad scope and mounting boldness of worldwide terrorism exemplified by the massive…