Is relief on the way for disaster management 'Babel'?
The move to abolish 10-codes from intradiscipline communications, which gained impetus in the wake of huge communication problems during 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina, may just be the first step in a move by the federal government to make clearer communications possible, says Bruce Clements, MPH, director of the Missouri Center for Emergency Response and Terrorism (CERT) in Jefferson City.
"There is an effort through the NIMS [National Incident Management System] Integration Center to try to create standard definitions that everyone can use as a baseline to agree on," Clements says. "They are working with the Department of Health and Human Services to standardize language in public health and medical locations."
Things get tricky when you use medical terminology, he explains. "When we looked at [what happened during] Katrina, even if someone requested 'a fire truck,' there are dozens of different types, so broad definitions like that are not helpful," he says.
It comes down to developing a common language, or a standardized typing of resources, Clements says. "So, for example, if I say I need 10 ED nurses, how 'ED nurse' is defined would be the same here as it is in other states," he says. "They aren't just looking to simplify terms so everyone will understand them, but to use agreed-upon definitions so you will know what it means when you hear it during a disaster."
The formal process, called the National Mutual Aid and Resource Management Initiative, will send out its definitions for peer review when they have been completed, says Clements. To stay abreast of those developments, the best public health resource will be the Association of State and Territorial Health Organizations at web site www.astho.org, he says. You also can monitor the NIMS Integration Center web site (www.fema.gov/emergency/nims/index.shtm) or contact your professional organizations.
The move to abolish 10-codes from intradiscipline communications, which gained impetus in the wake of huge communication problems during 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina, may just be the first step in a move by the federal government to make clearer communications possible, says Bruce Clements, MPH, director of the Missouri Center for Emergency Response and Terrorism (CERT) in Jefferson City.You have reached your article limit for the month. Subscribe now to access this article plus other member-only content.
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