New sources will continue to be added.
Links are current upon posting, but may expire or move over time.
AHRQ Bioterrorism Readiness Evaluation Tool for Healthcare Facilities
http://www.ahrq.gov/research/bioterr.pdfThe information and data obtained from this questionnaire will be used to help assess the preparedness and capacity of your hospital to respond to and treat victims of biological incident.
The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP)
Disaster Preparedness Resources for Medical Professionals
http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/clinical/disasterprep/prepare/mdresources.htmlPlanning for a disaster is a crucial way to ensure that you, your practice and your patients have everything you need to survive. The following resources provide advice and resources on all aspects of planning for a disaster.
American Academy of Pediatrics
http://www.aap.org/terrorism/index.htmlWritten to enhance the role and capabilities of pediatricians in planning for and responding to natural disasters and bioterrorist events and to ensure that the special needs of children are considered and incorporated into local, state, regional, and federal disaster preparedness planning and response.
The American Civil Defense Association
http://www.tacda.org/TACDA promotes dual-use preparations wherever possible, so that the cost of preparing for disasters is offset by normal day-to-day utility (such as with the Swiss concept of using parking garages for blast shelters). In addition, the dual-use concept can extend into the dimension of ensuring that preparations for natural disasters are done in such a way that preparations for war or terrorism are also addressed.
The American Medical Association (AMA) has put together a web site containing resources, FAQs, articles, reference guides, etc. related to bioterrorism and disaster preparedness.
Basic guidelines for developing a disaster plan, including potential contact with hazardous biological or chemical agents.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response
http://www.bt.cdc.govThe CDC has assembled a stellar site on bioterrorism preparedness. It includes a listing of biological agents/diseases and chemical agents that links to comprehensive medical information about these agents. A section on planning includes information hospitals can use to develop preparedness procedures and policies. A section on state and local preparedness provides a map of the United States that links to individual state assessments of their preparedness status. There is even a section with a model emergency communications plan, and a place where the media can obtain fact sheets about the different agents.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – Smallpox
http://www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/smallpox/This all-encompassing site provides information about smallpox for healthcare providers, public health professionals, kids, teens, parents, laboratory professionals, media, and the military. Basic smallpox information is available in both English and Spanish. Information also can be found about immunizations, and a response plan and guidelines.
FDA reminds all health professionals and the general public that Cipro is approved for the inhaled form of anthrax after an individual has been exposed. Safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients and adolescents less than 18 years of age have not been established, except for use in inhalational anthrax (post-exposure). The FDA Center for Drug Evaluation and Research has posted a comprehensive web page on the use of Cipro for inhalational anthrax.
DisasterAssistance.gov
http://www.disasterassistance.gov/disasterinformation/biological-threat.shtmDisasterAssistance.gov provides information on how to get help from the U.S. Government before, during and after a disaster as well as providing news, information and resources to prepare for disasters and recover afterwards. This page lists resources for recovery after a biological event.
Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Response Association
http://www.disasters.org DERA is a membership organization founded in 1962 as a nonprofit association linking professionals, volunteers and organizations active in all phases of disaster preparedness and emergency management. DERA remains an independent, nongovernmental organization (NGO) with dual missions of professional support and disaster service.
FDA reminds all health professionals and the general public that doxycycline and Penicillin G Procaine have been approved for all forms of anthrax, (inhalational, gastrointestinal, and cutaneous). Use of doxycycline in children under eight presents special concerns because of possible tooth discoloration. Long-term use of intravenous doxycycline or Penicillin G Procaine presents safety concerns, and patients should be switched, when appropriate, to other antibiotics to complete a 60 day course of therapy for inhalational anthrax (post-exposure).
eMedicine Disaster Planning
http://www.emedicine.com/emerg/topic718.htmAlthough the world has yet to experience a terrorist-related nuclear disaster, the raw materials and technology exist to develop nuclear devices as small portable units. No location is immune from the devastating effects of terrorism. Various methods have been developed to assist planners in disaster preparation. One, a modification of the Injury Severity Score, is based on cause, effect, area involved, number of casualties, and other parameters. The potential injury creating event (PICE) system is designed to identify common aspects of a disaster and of response capabilities. Such systems are especially valuable tools in planning for disaster mitigation.
Federal Emergency Management Agency
http://www.fema.gov/ This site provides all-purpose emergency guidance on virtually any type of emergency possible, from hurricanes to wildfires to bioterrorism and chemical attack. It also provides a graphical representation of the Department of Homeland Security's threat level color designation. There is a section in Spanish, and a section for children. Disaster fact sheets, flood maps and a map of current disasters also are available.
Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA)
Five in-depth articles published between 1999-2001 spotlight
anthrax,
smallpox,
plague,
botulinum toxin, and
tularemia. The 30-plus page articles present the history and potential of the organism as a biological weapon, epidemiology, microbiology and virulence factors, pathogenesis and clinical manifestations and more.
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/indexbt.html An information roundup of anthrax and bioterrorism stories and articles of interest. In particular, there is an article on distinguishing the symptoms of inhalation anthrax from influenza.
National Academies Press
Countering Bioterrorism: The Role of Science and Technology
http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=10536&page=R1A free executive summary provided by the National Academies Press (NAP) as part of their mission to educate the world on issues of science, engineering, and health.
Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response
www.bt.cdc.gov/masscasualties This site is designed to provide information and tools to help the public, public health professionals, and clinicians prepare for and respond to mass trauma.
Ready.gov
http://www.ready.govBe informed - what to do before, during and after an emergency. You can also sign up for preparedness newsletters and information.
The UCLA Center for Public Health and Disasters (CPHD)
http://www.cphd.ucla.edu/bt/btindex.htmlInformation provided by the CPHD for healthcare providors to learn about recognizing and responding to a biological terrorism event. Training materials include a PowerPoint slide presentation, list of bioterrorism-related journal articles, links to other web-based resources, a guide to writing a disaster plan, and frequently asked questions about biological agents.
University of Nebraska Medical Center's Readiness and Response to Bioterrorism
http://www.unmc.edu/bioterrorism/In response to recent bioterrorist attacks, the University of Nebraska Medical Center offers its resources to answer questions and address concerns. Our experts in infectious disease, emergency response and research are monitoring the situation and responding to requests from across the nation for assistance and guidance.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration – Bioterrorism and Drug Preparedness
http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/EmergencyPreparedness/BioterrorismandDrugPreparedness/default.htmTo help prepare our country for possible bioterrorism attacks, (FDA) is working with other federal agencies to make sure adequate supplies of medicine and vaccines are available to the American public. This web page provides links to the most current information on drug therapy and vaccines, plus advice on purchasing and taking medication.
Other Links of Interest
Links to manufacturer sites do not imply endorsement or encouragement on AANA's part to engage with the manufacturer or its products.
72Hours.org
http://www.72hours.org/For residents of the San Franciso area, this site offers many resources in the event of a natural or man-made disaster. The site's name refers to how long vital services may take to be restored after a disaster occurs.
Disaster Resources: University of Illinois Extension
http://www.ag.uiuc.edu/~disaster/Although primarily for citizens of Illinois and the university's staff, this site provides access to information on disaster preparedness and recovery for the State of Illinois and the Internet community. Information is available from the University of Illinois Extension, along with links to disaster agencies, organizations, and information networks.
HomeSafety - A Comprehensive Guide
http://homesecurity.net/home-safety-a-comprehensive-guide/There are many areas of home safety that are very important to know about. These can include preventive measures and unexpected crises, emergency management, fire and burn prevention, senior fall prevention, and more. On average, there are around 245 deaths a year related to home accidents.
Securing Your Home for Natural Disasters
Although there is often little that can be done to prevent a natural disaster from
occurring, a person can take steps to reduce the effect that it has on themselves and their property. This site reviews preparations for flooding, earthquakes, wildfires, hurricanes, tornadoes, hailstorms, and volcanic eruptions.