Disaster nursing. New frontiers for critical care.

Susan Briggs is an attending general and trauma surgeon at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. She is also the commanding officer for IMSURT East. A disaster is a catastrophic event that often leads to great destruction and loss. Logue defines a disaster as an event that causes excessive morbidity and mortality. Extensive damage to property, roadways, electrical lines, and other crucial infrastructures limits a region’s ability to respond. Whether the origin of the disaster is natural or attributable to human causes, the outcomes can be devastating. These events often leave the local first responders, medical systems, and governmental operations overwhelmed. At that saturation point, a disaster is declared and a needs assessment is begun. Historically, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has been the branch of the federal government designed to coordinate efforts during a disaster. From 1990 to 1999, the agency spent more than $25.4 billion on declared disasters, compared with $3.9 billion for the preceding 10-year period. During the 1990s, 460 major disasters were declared, higher than any other decade on record. In 2001, in response to recent terrorist attacks and the risk of future assaults, the governmental structure was changed. This change has been regarded as one of the largest modifications in governmental structure in years. The Department of Homeland Security is now the central organization overseeing many different agencies that focus on the safety and security of the United States such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Transportation Security Administration, the Coast Guard, and the National Disaster Medical System (NDMS). The focus of the Department of Homeland Security includes border and transportation security; chemical, biological, and radiological countermeasures; informational analysis and infrastructure protection; and emergency preparedness and response. Disaster Nursing New Frontiers for Critical Care CoverArticle