Emergency Preparedness
Most healthcare services are considered essential. That means healthcare providers cannot sit at home and hunker down during emergencies. Not only do healthcare institutions need to be up and running during all kinds of emergencies, they also must prepare for an increased influx of patients if the source of the emergency causes injuries to the public.
Emergencies that can affect healthcare facilities range from natural disasters and extreme storms to chemical spills, nuclear accidents, mass infectious disease outbreaks, utility outages and even cyberattacks.
Healthcare facilities must plan in advance for these emergencies and improve preparedness based on regular drills as well as incident reviews after emergency events occur. The resources below can help guide healthcare facilities and individuals on the best practices for emergency response.
If you have questions or would like to join NYSNA's Emergency Preparation Committee, contact NYSNA's Occupational Health and Safety Representatives at healthandsafety@nysna.org.
External Resources for Healthcare Facility Preparedness:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) - Emergency Preparedness
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) - Planning Guides
The Joint Commission Emergency Preparedness Resource Center
- Emergency Management Resources
- Standing Together: An Emergency Planning Guide for America's Communities
New York State Department of Health - Emergency Preparedness
U.S. Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response Technical Resources, Assistance Center and Information Exchange (ASPR TRACIE)
External Resources for Personal Preparedness:
New York State Department of Health - Information for Families, Individuals, and Caregivers