In February 2015, my village of Homa Bay County in Kenya experienced a cholera outbreak, claiming the lives of 17 people and affecting nearly 700 others. It was not our first cholera outbreak but it took a devastating toll, not just in my village but in nearby communities, too. As an epidemiologist and a public health professional, I was struck at the lack of capacity to rapidly detect the outbreak and contain its spread. Cholera’s symptoms are generally well understood making it easier to diagnose and treat than many diseases, but even still it took a deadly toll.

Firefighters are continuously exposed to particulates and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons that may heighten the likelihood of cancer. This is why they wear a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) during fire suppression and overhaul—to protect the respiratory tract, which is vulnerable to toxic combustion products that are commonly found in smoke and soot.

Makers of the Combat Application Tourniquet™ have updated the design of the widely used tourniquet.

The update has resulted in two different versions of the tourniquet currently in use in the field, though both have the same national stock number (NSN 6515-01-521-7976). Deployed Soldiers may soon receive the updated version and wonder how to use it.

A new strategy launched today takes powerful steps to protect and support the mental health of NSW’s front line first responders.

The Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy for First Responder Organisations in NSW was launched today by the Premier, The Hon. Mike Baird. It comprises six objectives to guide agencies in their efforts to protect and promote the mental well-being of their members.

After a 45-year partnership with the U.S. Army, the FBI yesterday formally accepted primary responsibility for the Hazardous Devices School at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama, the facility that trains and certifies every one of the nation’s public safety bomb technicians.