Acts of terrorism and mass violence targeting schools : Analysis and implications for preparedness in the USA To enhance the preparedness of US schools to acts of terrorism and mass violence, the landscape of threats against schools must first be understood. This includes exploring the global trends of acts of terrorism against schools, as well as looking specifically at the history of terrorism and acts of mass violence against schools domestically. This … Continue reading “Acts of terrorism and mass violence targeting schools : Analysis and implications for preparedness in the USA” Learn More
Schools and Terrorism: Global Trends, Impacts, and Lessons for Resilience This study characterizes trends in the frequency and characteristics of terrorist attacks in child-serving educational institutions around the world, examining the specific vulnerabilies of children and schools with regard to terrorist violence, as well as the various impacts that violence has on children, communities, and societies. Following the analysis of available data on terrorist attacks … Continue reading “Schools and Terrorism: Global Trends, Impacts, and Lessons for Resilience” Learn More
Anger Versus Fear: Perceptions of Terrorism Among the American Public With recent terrorist attacks in Brussels, Belgium; Paris, France; San Bernardino, California and elsewhere, the rhetoric for addressing the issue of terrorism has grown more polarized. In particular we have seen increasingly aggressive statements demanding limits to immigration, increasing vigilance against Muslim communities, and calling for more direct military action against terrorist organizations.The tone of … Continue reading “Anger Versus Fear: Perceptions of Terrorism Among the American Public” Learn More
Lessons not learned: Insider threats in pathogen research 1) Even though America’s most notorious biosecurity breach — the 2001 anthrax mailings — was the work of an insider, expert panels have concluded that there is no need for intrusive monitoring of microbiologists engaged in unclassified research. 2) The debate over publication of studies on the H5N1 virus focused on terrorists and ignored the … Continue reading “Lessons not learned: Insider threats in pathogen research” Learn More
Part I: A Critical Examination of “The Myth of Nuclear Deterrence” Several years ago, Ward Wilson presented in this journal a wide-ranging challenge to what every generation of national security scholars and practitioners since the end of World War II has been taught about nuclear weapons. He asserted that nuclear deterrence amounts to far less than its proponents have claimed and provocatively suggested that nuclear deterrence … Continue reading “Part I: A Critical Examination of “The Myth of Nuclear Deterrence”” Learn More
Rural and suburban population surge following detonation of an improvised nuclear device: A new model to estimate impact Background: The objective of the study was to model urban evacuation into surrounding communities after the detonation of an improvised nuclear device (IND) to assist rural and suburban planners in understanding and effectively planning to address the effects of population surges. Methods: Researchers developed parameters for how far evacuees would travel to escape disasters and … Continue reading “Rural and suburban population surge following detonation of an improvised nuclear device: A new model to estimate impact” Learn More
Health care system planning for and response to a nuclear detonation The hallmark of a successful response to a nuclear detonation will be the resilience of the community, region, and nation. An incident of this magnitude will rapidly become a national incident; however, the initial critical steps to reduce lives lost, save the lives that can be saved with the resources available, and understand and apply … Continue reading “Health care system planning for and response to a nuclear detonation” Learn More
The 2010 Nuclear Posture Review: the Nexus of Biological Weapons Threats and U.S. Nuclear Weapons Policy The U.S. government released its Nuclear Posture Review (NPR) Report in 2010. The NPR Report is declaratory policy that warns adversaries and assures allies about how the U.S. would use nuclear weapons to defend the people, territories, and vital interests of the United States. The NPR Report reflects the current administration‘s beliefs that nuclear weapons … Continue reading “The 2010 Nuclear Posture Review: the Nexus of Biological Weapons Threats and U.S. Nuclear Weapons Policy” Learn More
Regional Health and Public Health Preparedness for Nuclear Terrorism: Optimizing Survival in a Low Probability/High Consequence Disaster The United States remains unprepared to cope with the possibility of an attack on a major city by terrorists capable of acquiring and detonating an improvised nuclear device. Long-held anxieties about the non-survivability of nuclear war promulgated during the intense U.S.—Soviet arms race from the late 1940s through the 1980s, and reluctance to consider low … Continue reading “Regional Health and Public Health Preparedness for Nuclear Terrorism: Optimizing Survival in a Low Probability/High Consequence Disaster” Learn More
Day Three: Regional Resiliency and Health Challenges in the Aftermath of Nuclear Terrorism On February 23, 2010, in New York City, the National Center for Disaster Preparedness at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health (NCDP) convened a unique roundtable of experts to discuss the impacts on a major U.S. city and the surrounding region, of the detonation by terrorists of a 10-kiloton improvised nuclear device. Aware of … Continue reading “Day Three: Regional Resiliency and Health Challenges in the Aftermath of Nuclear Terrorism” Learn More
Pediatric Emergency Preparedness for Natural Disasters, Terrorism, and Public Health Emergencies: A National Consensus Conference: 2009 Update This is the third consensus document in an ongoing process to convene experts from the multiple disciplines that are involved in the planning for children affected by disasters. Learn More
Biological Terrorism In the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks and the subsequent mail-borne anthrax attack of October 2001, it has become dear that health care providers may be called upon to respond to victims of terrorism. Biological terrorism (BT), in particular, involves the use of virulent agents with the intent to cause mass casualties and/or … Continue reading “Biological Terrorism” Learn More
Of peppers and preparedness What can a chili pepper teach us about disaster preparedness? In June, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) began issuing advisories about a foodborne salmonella outbreak that was detected in the United States. At the end of August, the agencies announced with little fanfare that the … Continue reading “Of peppers and preparedness” Learn More
The American Preparedness Project: Where the US Public Stands in 2007 on Terrorism, Security, and Disaster Preparedness Since 2002, the National Center for Disaster Preparedness (NCDP) at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health and The Children’s Health Fund (CHF), have conducted annual surveys of public attitudes and personal preparedness in the aftermath of the terror attacks of September 11, 2001. Produced in collaboration with the Marist College Institute for Public Opinion … Continue reading “The American Preparedness Project: Where the US Public Stands in 2007 on Terrorism, Security, and Disaster Preparedness” Learn More
Pediatric Preparedness for Disasters, Terrorism and Public Health Emergencies: A National Consensus Conference: Executive Summary and Final Report In 2003, we convened experts from the multiple areas of expertise and disciplines involved in the planning for and care of children during times of disaster and terrorist events. The goals of this unprecedented meeting were to: 1) Build collaboration among individuals with expertise in emergency management, including disaster medicine, disaster planning, pediatric emergency medicine, … Continue reading “Pediatric Preparedness for Disasters, Terrorism and Public Health Emergencies: A National Consensus Conference: Executive Summary and Final Report” Learn More
Comfort level of emergency medical service providers in responding to weapons of mass destruction events: impact of training and equipment Background: Numerous studies have suggested that emergency medical services (EMS) providers are ill-prepared in the areas of training and equipment for response to events due to weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and other public health emergencies (epidemics, etc.). Methods: A nationally representative sample of basic and paramedic EMS providers in the United States was surveyed … Continue reading “Comfort level of emergency medical service providers in responding to weapons of mass destruction events: impact of training and equipment” Learn More
Remembrance and Wellness Five Years After 9/11 It has been five years. For some people time has barely passed. Tuesday, September 11, 2001 feels like yesterday. To others these last five years seem an eternity. Many people have slipped back into their everyday lives. The horrific images, unimaginable sadness, security threats and unanswered questions have given way to a world that on … Continue reading “Remembrance and Wellness Five Years After 9/11” Learn More
Bioterrorism Terrorism preparedness is a highly specific component of general emergency preparedness. In addition to the unique pediatric issues involved in general emergency preparedness, terrorism preparedness must consider several additional issues, including the unique vulnerabilities of children to various agents as well as the limited availability of age- and weight-appropriate antidotes and treatments. Although children may … Continue reading “Bioterrorism” Learn More
Children as Potential Targets of Terrorism: Conference Report The working group was an assembly of top thinkers who through their professional and personal endeavours stand poised to consider the implications of children as explicit targets of terrorism and provide directions for research and policy. The group was structured to be a small, select convergence of high-level persons situated in a forum of free … Continue reading “Children as Potential Targets of Terrorism: Conference Report” Learn More
Preparing Health Professions Students for Terrorism, Disaster, and Public Health Emergencies: Core Competencies The recent increased threat of terrorism, coupled with the ever-present dangers posed by natural disasters and public health emergencies, clearly support the need to incorporate bioterrorism preparedness and emergency response material into the curricula of every health professions school in the nation. A main barrier to health care preparedness in this country is a lack … Continue reading “Preparing Health Professions Students for Terrorism, Disaster, and Public Health Emergencies: Core Competencies” Learn More
Terrorism and preparedness: What September 11 and its aftermath mean for physicians In the aftermath of September 11, the people and government of the United States confronted a new reality–so too did the health care community. The attacks revealed a number of vulnerabilities with respect to the health care system’s infrastructure and ability to respond to terrorism. Although September 11 represents an unprecedented disaster in the United … Continue reading “Terrorism and preparedness: What September 11 and its aftermath mean for physicians” Learn More
Children in a Post-9/11 World There is a special set of concerns with respect to children in a post·9/ll world. With the enormous national effort being made to prevent terrorism and particularly to enhance response capacity to unconventional weapons of terror, the special needs of children must be accounted for in preparedness planning at all levels. The important principle is … Continue reading “Children in a Post-9/11 World” Learn More
Public Health Department Training of Emergency Medical Technicians for Bioterrorism and Public Health Emergencies: Results of a National Assessment Hypothesis: The public health system has a specialized body of knowledge and expertise in bioterrorism and public health emergency management that can assist in the development and delivery of continuing medical education programs to meet the needs of emergency medical service providers. Methods: A nationally representative sample of the basic and paramedic emergency medical service … Continue reading “Public Health Department Training of Emergency Medical Technicians for Bioterrorism and Public Health Emergencies: Results of a National Assessment” Learn More
Pediatric Terrorism Preparedness National Guidelines and Recommendations: Findings of an Evidenced-based Consensus Process A cadre of experts and stakeholders from government agencies, professional organizations, emergency medicine and response, pediatrics, mental health, and disaster preparedness were gathered to review and summarize the existing data on the needs of children in the planning, preparation, and response to disasters or terrorism. This review was followed by development of evidence-based consensus guidelines … Continue reading “Pediatric Terrorism Preparedness National Guidelines and Recommendations: Findings of an Evidenced-based Consensus Process” Learn More
Clinicians' Knowledge, Attitudes, and Concerns Regarding Bioterrorism After a Brief Educational Program We conducted this study to determine the knowledge, attitudes, and intended behaviors of New York City clinicians regarding bioterrorism-related diseases after a brief educational program. Data on clinicians’ knowledge and attitudes toward bioterrorism and related diseases were collected using a self-administered questionnaire following a 3.5-hour educational program. Participants (n = 310, 82% response rate) reported … Continue reading “Clinicians’ Knowledge, Attitudes, and Concerns Regarding Bioterrorism After a Brief Educational Program” Learn More
Atropine Use in Children After Nerve Gas Exposure Following the FDA’s approval of a pediatric dosage Atropen®, the Pediatric Expert Advisory Panel was asked to review the existing guidelines and recommendations regarding the treatment of children exposed to nerve agents and the Mark-1 Kit; review the new literature on pediatric nerve agent exposure; and to develop recommendations and guidelines for this new device … Continue reading “Atropine Use in Children After Nerve Gas Exposure” Learn More
How Americans Feel About Terrorism and Security: Three Years After September 11 The following is a product of The National Center for Disaster Preparedness (NCDP) at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health, commissioned in collaboration with The Children’s Health Fund (CHF), and conducted by the Marist Institute for Public Opinion. NCDP is a major national and international resource in disaster and terrorism readiness. NCDP includes one … Continue reading “How Americans Feel About Terrorism and Security: Three Years After September 11” Learn More
Disaster and Terrorism Preparedness: What Pediatricians Need To Know This chapter is designed to provide an overview of key issues for the pediatrician with respect to terrorism and disaster preparedness. It is not intended to be a complete compendium of didactic content, but it does represent an approach to understanding what needs to be learned by the pediatrician on this difficult topic and how … Continue reading “Disaster and Terrorism Preparedness: What Pediatricians Need To Know” Learn More
How Americans Feel About Terrorism And Security: Two Years After 9/11 Understanding attitudes, concerns and reactions of individuals and families is critical to emergency planning efforts on all levels. In order to have effective implementation of a disaster plan, people need to be confident in (a) the reliability of information from official sources, (b) the capacity of government to perform effectively in a crisis and (c) … Continue reading “How Americans Feel About Terrorism And Security: Two Years After 9/11” Learn More
The Vigilance Defense: Proven Systems and Well-Prepared People Are Our Best Protection Against Bioterror Last fall, when physicians diagnosed anthrax in a Florida man named Robert Stevens, they initially suspected that they were seeing a rare, natural case of the disease. The infection of a co-worker of Stevens, however, put the country on alert. Five people eventually died, but the quick recognition that the earliest anthrax infections resulted from … Continue reading “The Vigilance Defense: Proven Systems and Well-Prepared People Are Our Best Protection Against Bioterror” Learn More
