Embrace Action: Protect Your Colleagues and Family Members by Preparing for Emergencies

The United States federal government has designated September as National Preparedness Month, and this year ’s focus is on planning, with an overarching theme of “Disasters Don’t Plan Ahead. You Can.”1 This serves as a reminder that disasters and emergencies can occur at any time. The most succinct description of the difference between a disaster and an emergency is that a disaster is “a sudden calamitous event bringing great damage, loss, or destruction”2 that can cause an emergency, “an unforeseen combination of circumstances or the resulting state that calls for immediate action; an urgent need for assistance or relief.”3 We—as individuals, family members, employees, and communi ty members—must be aware of the different types of emergencies that can affect us in our homes, workplaces, and other settings.
Source: AORN Journal - Category: Nursing Authors: Tags: Column Source Type: research