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Volunteerism In Emergency Response Essay

¶ … Responders/Volunteerism Emergency responders or first responders are faced with several situations including a HAZMAT or contagious disease situation. These responders are required to take appropriate measures when handling victims from such situations. One of the most important measures for all responders is to protect themselves through wearing the required personal protective equipment. Personal protective equipment is defined as clothing or respiratory apparatus that are developed to shield a person from physical, biological, and chemical hazards. In HAZMAT or contagious disease situations, first responders need suitable personal protective equipment to protect themselves from hazardous and biological organisms that could threaten their lives.

If first responders do not wear the required personal protective equipment when dealing with victims involved in a HAZMAT or contagious disease situation, they are exposed to hazardous materials and biological organisms. This exposure happens when they first arrive on the scene, through triage, and at the hospital for treatment. Upon arrival at the scene, the first task of first responders is scene management, which involves isolating the scene to mitigate consequences. During this process, responders control movement of contaminated victims and limit the release of any hazardous materials or substances (Ramesh & Kumar, 2010, p.241). If first...

Regardless of the nature of the mass casualty incident, triage is the most significant objective of response to a medical disaster. The lack of required personal protective equipment is such incidents make it difficult to monitor the time of responders in triaging. Safety officers have challenges in determining the need for replacing the triage team because of lack of suitable protective equipment. Actually, the safety of these professionals from health risks is significantly threatened because of increased exposure.
First responders are also exposed to numerous health and safety risks if they do not wear the required personal protective equipment at the hospital during treatment of victims involved in a HAZMAT or contagious disease situation. The hospital environment is a high risk area for health risks if suitable measures like wearing personal protective equipment are not undertaken to safeguard the individual from hazardous substances.

Guidelines for Incorporating Volunteers in…

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Ramesh, A.C. & Kumar, S. (2010, September). Triage, Monitoring, and Treatment of Mass Casualty Events Involving Chemical, Biological, Radiological, or Nuclear Agents. Journal of Pharmacy & BioAllied Sciences, 2(3), 239-247.

Oil Spill Taskforce. (2008, June). Planning Guidelines for Convergent Volunteer Management. Retrieved June 8, 2016, from http://www.oilspilltaskforce.org/docs/planning_for_volunteer_management.pdf
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