After undergoing a multi-year revision process with extensive national stakeholder input, a Fifth Edition of the Hospital Incident Command System (HICS) has been released by the California Emergency Medical Services Authority. This edition has been expanded to meet the needs of all hospitals, regardless of their size, location or patient care capabilities. Updates include:
  

• The addition of a Patient Family Assistance Branch under the Operations Section to address patient family needs during a response;

• A new Employee Family Care Unit Leader added to the Support Branch within the Logistics Section to assist healthcare staff and clinicians by providing support for their families;

• A new chapter addressing the implementation of HICS during off hours and for small and rural hospitals; and

• Introduction of new, more practical tools for incident action planning.

Click here to access the HICS Fifth Edition.

New Method Discovered to Protect Against Chemical Weapons

Researchers at Oregon State University have shown that compounds called polyoxoniobates can degrade and decontaminate nerve agents such as the deadly sarin gas. The use of these compounds for decontamination has never before been demonstrated, and the discovery could have important implications for military and civilian protection, including hospital response operations. Poloxoniobates also have other characteristics that may make them ideal for protective suits, masks or other clothing. These findings were recently published in the European Journal of Inorganic Chemistry, and reported in the Domestic Preparedness Journal.