All these pandemics have brought a dismal question to mind....

[Gauss44]

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I'm wondering how best to prepare oneself for serving in a time of serious pandemic or within a sanitarium (more serious than H1N1/SARs/etc. in the USA)? Perhaps you learn this in medical school? Perhaps this is a better question for a psychologist?

The reason I ask is that I have a strong interest in emergency medicine. I've been a trainer in an emergency department, a position I love, for the past several years (during the SARs/H1N1 ordeals, etc.). I would like to have a sense of wisdom and knowledge about heading into a serious pandemic (similar to the old tuberculosis, flu of 1918, Black Dealth, etc.). I would like this knowledge for myself and to be a good mentor. Can you recommend a good book? Website? Your own tips/wisdom?

I am a premed if that matters. And I hope to be a doctor in upcoming years.

 

[allantois]

http://www.amazon.com/And-Band-Played-On-20th-Anniversary/dp/0312374631

 

[medicalmnt]

What can a psychiatrist do?
I'm sure USA will do something then have NIH report on why it was a good decision after releasing whatever they do to the public.

Reacting is sexy (+$), preemptive strikes are not (-$)

 

[xffan624]

I'm wondering how best to prepare oneself for serving in a time of serious pandemic or within a sanitarium (more serious than H1N1/SARs/etc. in the USA)? Perhaps you learn this in medical school? Perhaps this is a better question for a psychologist?

The reason I ask is that I have a strong interest in emergency medicine. I've been a trainer in an emergency department, a position I love, for the past several years (during the SARs/H1N1 ordeals, etc.). I would like to have a sense of wisdom and knowledge about heading into a serious pandemic (similar to the old tuberculosis, flu of 1918, Black Dealth, etc.). I would like this knowledge for myself and to be a good mentor. Can you recommend a good book? Website? Your own tips/wisdom?

I am a premed if that matters. And I hope to be a doctor in upcoming years.

Straight from CDC, how to prepare for the zombie apocalypse .

 

[Ismet]

Wash your hands and don't lick anyone. And wear a mask if the disease is airborne. Best thing you can do is not get sick yourself.

Not sure what you're looking for exactly. Hospitals and such have protocols in place for dealing with things like this. If they're overwhelmed you may be able to volunteer with the Red Cross or something to help out. But it's the same basic principle of using PPE and proper sanitization to protect yourself and others while treating the sick.

Also there's really no such thing as a sanatorium in the US anymore. Most if not all were closed or turned into hospitals after the cure for TB was discovered.

 

[Goro]

Pay careful attention in your Med Micro classes.

I'm wondering how best to prepare oneself for serving in a time of serious pandemic or within a sanitarium (more serious than H1N1/SARs/etc. in the USA)? Perhaps you learn this in medical school? Perhaps this is a better question for a psychologist?

The reason I ask is that I have a strong interest in emergency medicine. I've been a trainer in an emergency department, a position I love, for the past several years (during the SARs/H1N1 ordeals, etc.). I would like to have a sense of wisdom and knowledge about heading into a serious pandemic (similar to the old tuberculosis, flu of 1918, Black Dealth, etc.). I would like this knowledge for myself and to be a good mentor. Can you recommend a good book? Website? Your own tips/wisdom?

I am a premed if that matters. And I hope to be a doctor in upcoming years.

 

[LizzyM]

Read:
America's Forgotten Pandemic: The Influenza of 1918
by Alfred W. Crosby

 

[deleted480308]

type "prepper" into google, enter rabbit hole

 

[Gauss44]

Wash your hands and don't lick anyone. And wear a mask if the disease is airborne. Best thing you can do is not get sick yourself.

Not sure what you're looking for exactly. Hospitals and such have protocols in place for dealing with things like this. If they're overwhelmed you may be able to volunteer with the Red Cross or something to help out. But it's the same basic principle of using PPE and proper sanitization to protect yourself and others while treating the sick.

Also there's really no such thing as a sanatorium** in the US anymore. Most if not all were closed or turned into hospitals after the cure for TB was discovered.

I'm interested in ANY response to my questions in the OP. It's a general (non-narrow, non-specific) question. I'm probably interested in every possible answer*.

*...so long as it's responsive to the questions asked.

**There is "such thing," however, none are in operation due to a lack of need at the moment.

 

[Ismet]

**There is "such thing," however, none are in operation due to a lack of need at the moment.

I'm pretty sure that "lack of need" has been going on for the last 50 years or so, and like I said, most or all of them were closed, converted, or destroyed.

 

[NotTheBees]

I recommend drinking heavily, the alcohol content will kill all the germs in your system.

 

[Gauss44]

What can a psychiatrist do?
I'm sure USA will do something then have NIH report on why it was a good decision after releasing whatever they do to the public.

Reacting is sexy (+$), preemptive strikes are not (-$)

Having been on the disaster preparedness committee in my last job at a major corporation, and having received professional training about that, I would have to disagree with your last line.

Regarding your first line, I didn't say, "psychiatrist," as you did. I said, "psychologist." And I did so because they have a special knowledge of both how the human mind operates, and OFTEN TIMES about details of situations* that impact people psychologically. Therefore they might be an excellent source of information regarding parts of (or all of) my general question.

*wide-spread disease, terrorism, war, etc.

One word of advice that I got from a psychology professor after 9-11 was that often times people OVERESTIMATE their ability to be untouched (psychologically) by extreme situations (and non-extreme ones). All sorts of people in the line of duty (and NOT in the line of duty), can march into a "situation" with a strong body and fine mental health, to all of the sudden feel... "not right." That feeling can sometimes be the onset of trauma or worse. There are ways to "preemptively" reduce the likelihood for that and to optimally respond to that should it occur.

IMO, planning ahead makes a difference. One should never hesitate to plan ahead or to become educated.

 

[Gauss44]

In contrast to some of the replies on here, I am a big believer in preparedness. Back when 9-11 happened, I was an older teenager and some of my friends volunteered at ground zero. I remember the chaos, confusion, and the fear some people had. I wondered how I could be most helpful in that sort of situation and followed up by educating myself. Years later here in Boston, I volunteered to help victims of the Marathon bombing and comforted people on that day. Somehow I felt calm and competent during that uncertain and scary time. I credit that feeling of calmness, the strength of confidence, and a sense of "knowing what to do" to my work after the first terrorist attack (of becoming prepared). I do not know, but suspect that a very severe contagious disease (in the order of old tb, 1918 flu, etc.) could cause similar circumstances (to a terrorist attack), and could potentially happen again regardless of how long it's been since the last one. (And I was told that by experts in my last job.) Heck it could happen as part of a terrorist attack or just out of nowhere. I hope that if it does, I will be ready for it, and eventually proud of myself for a job well done.

For those of you who have not experienced the chaos that I speak of: It involves no one knowing what to do, no one knowing what's going on, widespread panic and fear, normal-seeming people breaking down emotionally right and left, and sometimes professionals having to deal with, and being overwhelmed by, lots of "firsts." Many people (professionals and not) will be too emotionally "charged" to have a rational discussion of what is or has happened during the event and directly afterwards. At least that's been my experience.