Be Prepared [horizontal ellipsis] the meaning of the motto is that a scout must prepare himself by previous thinking out and practising how to act on any accident or emergency so that he is never taken by surprise[horizontal ellipsis]
-Robert Baden-Powell, founder of the Boy Scouts and Girl Guides1
The Boy Scout Motto quoted above is an appropriate way to begin a dialogue about disaster preparedness. As Robert Baden-Powell explained, every scout must be ready for any unforeseen events that may occur, including accidents or emergencies. Healthcare professionals also inadvertently follow this motto in their daily work as they prepare for the unexpected. Being ready for whatever the day brings is part of disaster preparedness, and as part of that preparation, this issue of Family & Community Health(31.3) seeks to educate healthcare professionals about the various aspects of preparedness as well as provide information that can be used at a local level.
In a 2002 article on disaster preparedness, Fahlgren and Drenkard discussed lessons learned by nursing leaders in the aftermath of September 11, 2001. The first lesson recognized that "disasters are indiscriminate and can occur at any time and in any place."2p531 The second lesson noted that "a well-crafted and often tested disaster preparedness plan is the best defense in times of emergency."2p531 Such lessons continue to be put into practice by healthcare professionals who dealt with disasters such as hurricanes Katrina and Rita as well as a myriad of floods, storms, and wildfires that continue to ravage parts of the nation on a seemingly daily basis. In addition, stories from abroad like the averted car bombs in London's theater district and the attack on the Glasgow airport demonstrate that sudden and unexpected events continue to challenge all of us as we examine our disaster preparedness. Are we being proactive as we plan for possible natural and manmade disasters, or are our plans more reactive in nature? What can be done to ensure that we are, as Baden-Powell described, "never taken by surprise"?
This issue of Family & Community Health seeks to provide readers with some food for thought regarding disaster preparedness. As Fahlgren and Drenkard state, a well-researched and practiced plan is the best approach for future disaster situations, meaning that professionals must actively participate in creating a strategy to address the unique concerns inherent in their community.2 Such a plan should also embrace what Glick, Jerome-D'Emilia, Nolan, and Burke call "interdisciplinary efforts," or bringing a myriad of healthcare professionals together to use their best skills in addressing the situation.3p267 Such collaboration ensures that disaster preparedness is pervasive throughout the professionals in the community, and that everyone has a role to play in order to "Be Prepared." Being adequately prepared is expensive: it takes time, thoughtfulness, planning, and resources. All habits and behaviors must change. However, to not prepare is far more costly.
Jeanette Lancaster
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