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ABSTRACT
Disaster preparedness has two primary functions. The first is to prepare responders for what their roles and responsibilities are once a disaster occurs, and to ensure they have the training and equipment needed. The inclusion of forensic nurses in disaster preparedness was centered on this premise. The value of forensic nurses in response efforts is well documented.
However, their participation in the second function, prevention, may be even more valuable. Forensic nurses are well versed on medico-legal trauma-injuries that could result in legal ramifications. With their ability to recognize potential risks of injury and to identify possible interventions including elimination, mitigation, and educational opportunities, forensic nurses have more than earned inclusion on the disaster preparedness team.
BACKGROUND
Forensic nurses have been actively engaged in disaster response since long before 9/11 or Hurricane Katrina. Their valuable participation in response activities is well-documented. Preparedness activities concentrated on training forensic nurses in their roles and responsibilities during any disaster response, including how they would be incorporated into the overall response process. Of course this training is necessary, because response efforts have a very specific process that must be followed to ensure all responders are working in unison. They complement and support each other. This process incorporates the National Incident Management System (NIMS), which utilizes the Incident Command System (ICS). NIMS and ICS clearly define the responsibility of each responder, as well as the chain-of-command; therefore, who is in charge is well-established. Responders from out of the area are able to immediately participate once they receive their assignments, because the roles and responsibilities are consistent throughout the process. Without this structured system, inefficiency results in duplicated efforts, missed opportunities, wasted resources, and-at its worst-lost lives.
Unfortunately, this training did not address preventive or mitigation measures for the types of trauma that historically result from disasters. The focus was on what to do after the fact, not before, and because the forensic nurses were reactive, not proactive, the opportunity to minimize or prevent many injuries was missed.
Prevention should be a key component of any disaster preparedness program, and it is the primary focus of this article. It is not enough to just treat the same types of injuries over and over again as disaster incidents are...