Links of Interest

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Emergency Preparedness Site. 

Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
Disasters and Emergencies Sections, with links to disaster resources.

Department of Homeland Security
The Department of Homeland Security is committed to helping first responders nation-wide by ensuring that emergency response professionals are prepared, equipped and trained for any situation, and by bringing together information and resources to prepare for and respond to a terrorist attack, natural disaster or other large-scale emergency.

Department of Homeland Security Institute
The Homeland Security Institute (HSI) is a Studies and Analysis Federally Funded Research and Development Center. HSI delivers independent and objective analyses and advises in core areas important to its sponsor in support of policy development, decision-making, analysis of alternative approaches, and evaluation of new ideas on issues of significance.

Hospital Incident Command System (HICS or HEICS)
Progress continues in the Hospital Emergency Incident Command System (HEICS) revision project, led by the California Emergency Medical Services Authority and funded by HRSA Hospital Bioterrorism Preparedness and Planning grants.  New Name: Hospital Incident Command System (HICS) as the revised model will have the flexibility for use during any hospital situation (not limited to emergencies and/or disasters), it can be referred to more simply as Hospital ICS or HICS. 

Illinois Poison Center for Bioterrorism Guidelines for your PDA
This is a great informational tool for a Physician, Nurse, and/or EMT involved with Bioterrorism, there is no charge for this.

National Disaster Medical System (NDMS)
The NDMS is located within the Operations Branch of the Response Division of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Department of Homeland Security.  It is primarily responsible for responding to the medical needs of disaster affected populations in major emergencies and Federally declared disasters.

National Incident Management System (NIMS) Integration Center
The NIMS Integration Center was established by the Secretary of Homeland Security to provide strategic direction for an oversight of the National Incident Management System ... supporting both routine maintenance and the continuous refinement of the system and its components over the long term".

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Information about coping with traumatic events.

U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID)
The Department of Defense's lead laboratory for medical aspects of biological warfare defense, USAMRIID conducts research to develop vaccines, drugs and diagnostics for laboratory and field use. In addition to developing medical countermeasures, USAMRIID formulates strategies, information, procedures, and training programs for medical defense against biological threats.

US Dept of Health and Human Services/ Health and Resources Services Administration (HRSA)
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is the primary Federal agency for improving access to health care services for people who are uninsured, isolated or medically vulnerable. Comprising five bureaus and 12 offices, HRSA provides leadership and financial support to health care providers in every state and U.S. territory. HRSA grantees provide health care to uninsured people, people living with HIV/AIDS, and pregnant women, mothers and children. They train health professionals and improve systems of care in rural communities. HRSA oversees organ, tissue and bone marrow donation. It supports programs that prepare against bioterrorism, compensate individuals harmed by vaccination, and maintains databases that protect against health care malpractice and health care waste, fraud and abuse.

US Dept of Health and Human Services/ HRSA National Bioterrorism Hospital Preparedness Program (NBHPP)
The National Bioterrorism Hospital Preparedness Program (NBHPP) enhances the ability of hospitals and health care systems to prepare for and respond to bioterrorism and other public health emergencies. Program priority areas include improving bed and personnel surge capacity, decontamination capabilities, isolation capacity, pharmaceutical supplies, and supporting training, education, and drills and exercises.

US Fire Academy (USFA)
As an entity of the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the mission of the USFA is to reduce life and economic losses due to fire and related emergencies, through leadership, advocacy, coordination, and support. This includes Incident Command Study Courses.

U.S. National Library of Medicine
US National Library of Medicine is the world's largest biomedical library. The library; explores the uses of computer and communication technologies to improve the organization and use of biomedical information, educates users about available sources of information so that they may conduct their own research concerning medical topics, acts as a supplemental resource after local, regional, and other national resources have been contacted, and provides grants.

PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (ARHQ) Public Health Preparedness
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) research provides evidence-based information on health care outcomes; quality; and cost, use, and access. Information from AHRQ's research helps people make more informed decisions and improve the quality of health care services. AHRQ was formerly known as the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research.

American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Children and Disasters
This Web site contains information to ensure that pediatricians and other pediatric providers have the information they need about terrorism and disasters as fast as it becomes available. And to ensure that children's needs are considered in all terrorism and disaster planning and response efforts. And ensure functioning linkages with all national, state and local governmental and private entities working on issues concerning terrorism and disasters.

Association for Professionals in Infection Control (APIC)
Bioterrorism Resources Page with information about various bioterrorism agents, and bioterrorism response plan information.

Emergency Nursing Association (ENA)
The Emergency Nursing Association (ENA) is the national Association for professional nurses dedicated to the advancement of emergency nursing practice. Whether you are a staff nurse or manager in an emergency department, an administrator, prehospital, flight, pediatric or trauma emergency nurse, an emergency clinical nurse specialist, nurse practitioner, student or educator, you can benefit from membership in ENA. No matter your level of experience, or the size of your
emergency department, membership in ENA contributes to your professional growth.

ILLINOIS SPECIFIC

Biker4Biker

Biker4Biker is a group of Illinois bikers that have joined together to help area bikers and their families in times of need. We created Biker4Biker to help all bikers regardless of which bike you ride or what group or groups you may ride with. Our help is available to HOG members, Abate Members or folks who just like to ride and do not belong to any group. Our volunteers represent many of the area riding groups and have generously given their time and resources to help others in need. Also see Rescue Riders.

Illinois Homeland Security

The Illinois Homeland Security web site is the central resource for information and guidance from the State of Illinois regarding security and emergency-related issues. The site offers information ranging from guidelines for county and municipal governments, to emergency checklists, and links to state and federal web sites, making it a key component of state preparedness.

Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH)

Bioterrorism Preparedness Section Information for healthcare providers and the public regarding Bioterrorism preparedness and response.

Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA)

Every day Illinois' citizens face natural, technological, chemical and manmade hazards that can produce situations that become disasters. Even though the probability of you or your family being injured or killed in a disaster is very low, it is extremely probable that its effects will impact your lives.

Illinois Medical Reserves Corps

The MRC was founded after President Bush’s 2002 State of the Union Address, in which he asked all Americans to volunteer in support of their country. It is a partner program with Citizen Corps, a national network of volunteers dedicated to ensuring hometown security. Citizen Corps, along with AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, and the Peace Corps are part of the President's USA Freedom Corps, which promotes volunteerism and service nationwide. MRC units are community-based and function as a way to locally organize and utilize volunteers who want to donate their time and expertise to prepare for and respond to emergencies and promote healthy living throughout the year. MRC volunteers supplement existing emergency and public health resources.

ILLINOIS MEDICAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM

The Illinois Medical Emergency Response Team (IMERT) is a volunteer organization for all levels of emergency medical personnel as well as individuals with backgrounds in logistics, communications, safety, and information technologies whose mission it is to respond to and assist with emergency medical treatment at mass casualty incidents, in addition to coordinating educational programs to EMS participants in Illinois.

Metropolitain Chicago Healthcare Council

MCHC is a membership and service association comprising more than 140 hospitals and health care organizations working together, since 1935, to improve the delivery of health care services in the Chicago area. The Council's institutional members consist of hospitals (and their integrated delivery systems) in the eight-county Chicago area.  Associate members include hospitals outside these counties, as well as physician groups, nursing homes, outpatient treatment centers, insurers, medical schools and other health care organizations.

Northern Illinois University

Northern Illinois University is currently offering graduate and undergraduate Homeland Security certificate including Biochemical Sciences, Environmental Risks and Hazards Assessment, and Health Sciences tracks. This is part of a state grant aimed at increasing education in this area.

Rescue Riders

The Rescue Riders train bikers in emergency response and work hand in hand with federal, state, and local emergency response organizations. This public/private partnership allows us, as bikers, to utilize our enhanced mobility via two wheels while supporting our partners. Have you ever experienced grid lock during rush hour? Now imagine that that grid lock is wide spread due to tornadoes devastating the area. In that scenario it's hard to get first responders and/or supplies into areas where they are needed. The ability to quickly deploy into areas where needed can literally mean the difference between life and death. In addition to providing transportation services to our partners, our Rescue Riders are trained in First Aid, CPR, accident scene management, basic medical triage, life support and much more. Rescue Riders are then aligned with the appropriate emergency response agency and act as volunteers for that agency when mobilized.

UIC Disaster Emergency Medicine Readiness Training Center

The UIC DEMRT Center researches and develops plans and policy for health care professionals who serve on local, county, and state "All Hazard" and "Weapons of Mass Destruction" (WMD) Response Teams within the State Of Illinois and the surrounding Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Region 5.  The DEMRT Center facilitates curriculum design and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) preparedness and training courses for oral health care providers serving on EMS, WMD, and TEMS response teams.