Emergency Preparedness and Response in Chemical Leakage
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Emergency Preparedness and Response in Chemical Leakage
Emergencies are almost inevitable, and they come when least expected. However, initiatives have been put in place by different agencies to prevent such situations, minimize their occurrence and risks to ensure the safety of the people and the environment (Dausey, Davis, Howell, LaTourrette & Sama, 2009). Coordinated efforts of various technical and professional experts are essential in ensuring all the resources, tools and expertise are availed to respond appropriately to a crisis and minimize casualties (CDC, 2016). Public health directors play a crucial role in emergencies other than their regular case management, regulatory and analysis.
During an emergency, a public health director offers leadership insight applying the skills of behavioral science, health awareness, epidemiology, and biostatistics (IHI, 2016). During the chemical leakage, the director must guide the professional team in preventing casualties and spread of infection among the population within the respective area (CDC, 2016). The directorate of public health has a vital role during environmental disasters and crisis such as the chemical leakage to ensure crisis management and risk communication. Chemical leakage can diffuse in the air or contaminate the water people use, requiring the analysis of the disaster to establish the extent of the risk involved (Dausey et al., 2009).
The director of public health must ensure awareness creation among the public on the possible health hazards, appropriate actions for the public and the execution of interventions to contain the situation (IHI, 2016). There must be a flow of a suitable communication to the public on remote and accessible services in such case with the director maintaining surveillance and reporting on the crisis (CDC, 2016). A public health director must, therefore, ensure proper analysis of the extent of risk in the disaster, support surveillance and communicate to the public much as possible on the progress of containing the situation (Dausey et al., 2009).