Q One of the sad realities of disasters is that they can result in the loss of human life. Many emergency responders have learned this from their own experience, and they will remember the incident for a long time. Mass fatality disasters are often long remembered by the responders, the community, the state and the nation. Disaster management is important, and every plan should have a section on fatality management. By definition, a mass fatality incident is any situation where there are more bodies than can be handled using local resources. There is no minimum number of fatalities to become a mass fatality incident because communities vary in size and resources. When a passenger aircraft crashes carrying 100 to 300 passengers or a building structure with hundreds of people inside collapses, the incident would probably be deemed a mass fatality incident, even in the largest of cities. Likewise, an incident like a mad gunman killing five people can be called a multiple fatality incident, but it may not be a mass fatality incident if it occurs in a major city. In any case, the recovery, identification, and disposition of the victims are the responsibilities of the medical examiner/coroner of the jurisdiction where the incident occurs. There are many volunteer organizations and community businesses able to assist the medical examiner/coroner during a mass fatality incident response. Scenario You have been assigned as the lead for a mass fatality incident in your county and as a Public Health professional you do have a significant expertise in this area. Be sure to discuss training on the basic mass fatality incident response principles and procedures. 1. How would you prepare for mass fatality incidents? 2. How is the overall disaster response plan managed by the emergency management office? 3. What is the hospital’s role during disaster preparedness and mass fatality management? ************************************************************************************************************************************* ALL FORUMS Initial Response: Initial responses should be no less than 450 words in length not including your reference(s) and supported by at least two references (aside from the textbook). Initial responses are due no later than 11:55 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Day 3 of each week. This allows time for other students to respond to your initial response. Please be aware that just “cutting and pasting” sections of articles (in lieu of writing an original initial post) is not acceptable and will negatively impact your grade. Peer Responses: Students are required to respond to at least two (2) other student’s initial postings (and the instructor) with significant comments that have substance. Peer responses are due no later than 11:55 p.m. ET on Sunday, Day 7 of each week. All peer responses must be substantial and significant and should be no less than 200 words in length not including your reference(s) and supported by at least one reference (aside from the textbook). If possible, one of the responses to another’s work should be from an opposing viewpoint. Your response to your peers work should be engaging and informative with good substance (just stating “I agree…” is not acceptable). Your responses should contribute in a meaningful way to helping advance our knowledge of the topics the class explores. Your responses to another’s work should be posted as a sub-thread to the student’s original posting of whom you are commenting. For all Forum activity, students are encouraged to use the APUS Online Library to search for references that help support their argument (in addition to textbook material). All posts should contribute and advance the class knowledge of the course themes. The Forum provides an opportunity for everyone to analyze work from many different perspectives. Late Forum posts receive a 10% per day late penalty. If your 2 peer responses are posted after the week is ended (after Day 7, Sunday) they receive a zero, in that the discussion is over and you cannot receive credit for participation in a discussion with others after the discussion week has closed.