The value of open dialogue

From www.OSHA.gov

Community planners should ensure that EMS responders participate in discussions of emergency preparedness and exercises involving mutual aid.

The better the community’s organizations and its citizens understanding of the strengths and limitations of their EMS system, the more realistic the community’s expectations will be during an actual emergency.

Additionally, employers that foster open and trusting dialogue between themselves and these community groups during day-to-day operations will find it easier to share valuable information in times of crisis. In the midst of a disaster, that shared information might help remind community members of both the greatest strengths and the realistic limitations of their EMS responders.

This could help protect employers from being pressured by the demands of unrealistic community expectations into providing EMS responders for activities for which they are not properly trained or equipped.

A specific example of a proactive practice for communication would be employers who promote dialogue with the media.

Emergency responders, including EMS responders, can help media representatives before a disaster occurs by providing useful background information to help the media understand how EMS responders work and what conditions put them at undue risk.

It is also important for citizens to understand how the risk to the community increases when EMS responders and ambulances must be taken out of commission due to contamination, injury, or illness.

Employers might consider training media spokespersons who can help disseminate this message. During an emergency, however, communication with the media must be with one voice through the incident command system (ICS) structure.

This excerpt was drawn from Best Practices for Protecting EMS Responders During Treatment and Transport of Victims of Hazardous Substance Releases