Ellicott City: A Timeline of Resilience
Since its founding in 1772, Ellicott City “has come in for an inordinate amount of disasters from floods, fires and railroad wrecks,” Continue Reading Ellicott City: A Timeline of Resilience
EHS
CS3 leads research summit on community-based violence prevention in Baltimore
“We wanted to purposefully use this summit to convene as many researchers as possible to examine, discuss, and share expertise and data,” Mallinson says. “Our intent is increasing collaboration and resources beyond this room, between institutions and the community, to create tangible, applicable and responsive human- and community-centered research in violence prevention with and for Baltimore.” Continue Reading CS3 leads research summit on community-based violence prevention in Baltimore
After the Storm – UMBC Community Volunteers Around the World
The fall of 2017 was marked by wildfires that burned most of Napa, Sonoma, and Mendocino counties in Northern California, and a hurricane season with 17 tropical storms — 10 of which became hurricanes and six that reached a category three or stronger. Millions of people dealt with and continue to face loss of power, as well as shortages in water, medical care, and food, through the fall and winter. While media coverage of these events often focuses on the initial impact, rarely do we get to see what happens behind the scenes as first responders prepare or during the… Continue Reading After the Storm – UMBC Community Volunteers Around the World
Wilderness Warriors
You’re hiking in the woods. A branch snaps…and suddenly you’re on the ground, immobilized by pain. As the sun begins to set, you wonder what you’ll do next, and who might come to your rescue… Wilderness Warriors It takes intense training to rescue and provide excellent medical care to patients under normal, predictable circumstances. To do the same thing in untamed wilderness? Well, that takes an extra layer of grit. That’s why each spring for the last 33 years, UMBC’s Emergency Health Services (EHS) program has sent a group of hardy students deep into the forest to learn the finer… Continue Reading Wilderness Warriors
Practicing What They Preach
Students come to UMBC’s Emergency Health Services program for many reasons. Some already work as EMTs or as physicians, while others hope to get into health policy or disaster relief. What brings them together, says program chair and professor J. Lee Jenkins ’97, biological sciences and EHS, M.S. ’99, EHS, is a shared desire to help people in need. “The students here are very altruistic, and they are the classic ‘Wanna change the world, wanna make it a better place,’ people with big ideas,” she said. “Being able to help people immediately and make a difference at a very stressful… Continue Reading Practicing What They Preach
Reimagined Graduate Research Conference focuses on clear communication across all fields
“Mechanical engineers and historians are here in the same room talking to one another,” said Dean Scott Casper during his featured talk focused on communication skills. “That is what is really exciting about today.” Continue Reading Reimagined Graduate Research Conference focuses on clear communication across all fields
Matt Levy, EHS medical director, receives Silver Medal of Valor from Howard County Fire and Rescue Services
Dr. Matt Levy ’00, emergency health services, and ’08 M.S., emergency health services, was recently honored for his work in responding to the Columbia Mall shooting in January 2014. Dr. Levy received the Silver Medal of Valor from Howard County Fire and Rescue Services for his role as the second tactical medic to arrive on scene that day, and then transitioned to being the on-scene medical director. The award was given for entering a dangerous environment that had the potential for a continued direct threat in the immediate aftermath of a shooting. Levy supported the SWAT team’s mission to identify… Continue Reading Matt Levy, EHS medical director, receives Silver Medal of Valor from Howard County Fire and Rescue Services
Richard Bissell, Emergency Health Services, Analyzes Nepal Earthquake Response in The Conversation
In response to a devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake that hit Nepal over the weekend, Richard Bissell wrote about the international relief effort in The Conversation. Bissell, a professor of emergency health services, along with his colleague Thomas Kirsch at Johns Hopkins Medicine, analyzed what can be done to improve and effectively maximize resources of international health-oriented disaster responses. “The most important aspect of this process is called the ‘needs assessment,’ which uses an initial damage assessment to predict what kinds of rescue, health, food and shelter needs exist at that time, as well as what will likely be needed going forward in… Continue Reading Richard Bissell, Emergency Health Services, Analyzes Nepal Earthquake Response in The Conversation
Dwight Polk, Emergency Health Services, on EMS1.com
Dwight Polk, paramedic program director and senior lecturer of emergency health services, recently presented at the Arrowhead EMS Conference in Duluth, Minn. about exploring the psychological impact of line of duty deaths (LODD) on EMS organizations. Polk regularly teaches and presents at regional and state EMS conferences around the country. The editor of EMS1.com, a news service for EMS professionals, wrote an article analyzing Polk’s presentation in discussing the inevitability of planning and preparing for a line of duty death in the profession. The article mentioned several key takeaways from Polk’s presentation, including having updated emergency contact forms, protection of evidence… Continue Reading Dwight Polk, Emergency Health Services, on EMS1.com
Calm in a Storm
It was the middle of the night in November 2013, just after Typhoon Haiyan struck, when Sako Narita ’04, interdisciplinary studies (international emergency health services), received an urgent phone call from Japan with a request: a disaster response team organized by Humanitarian Medical Assistance (HuMA) to help provide aid to the Philippines needed her expertise. The call did not come as a surprise to Narita, who is currently a master’s student in UMBC’s emergency health services (EHS) department. She had prior experience providing disaster response for the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in her native Japan and a previous typhoon in… Continue Reading Calm in a Storm
Richard Bissell, Emergency Health Services, in the Baltimore Sun
On March 27th, Dominick Tolli of the American Red Cross visited UMBC to discuss four revolutionary mobile apps his team created to better serve people impacted by natural disasters and other emergencies. When Superstorm Sandy hit, tens of thousands of people accessed the apps for information on storm conditions, available shelters, first aid and even gasoline pick-up sites. The Baltimore Sun reported on the event, organized by Richard Bissell of the Emergency Health Services Dept., who serves on the Scientific Advisory Council of the American Red Cross. Bissell commented that the app developers “are helping move the Red Cross into… Continue Reading Richard Bissell, Emergency Health Services, in the Baltimore Sun
Rick Bissell, Emergency Health Services, on Panel for Union of Concerned Scientists
Rick Bissell, emergency health services, was as an invited panel discussant at the Union of Concerned Scientists in Washington, DC. The panel discussed public access to timely and valid science-based information in disasters and other emergencies. This topic has risen in importance in recent years following information inaccuracies or withholding in the following incidents: airborne particulates and contaminants secondary to the collapse of the Twin Towers at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, several “mad cow” incidents in the last decade in which information has been obfuscated, the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and various… Continue Reading Rick Bissell, Emergency Health Services, on Panel for Union of Concerned Scientists