Our professional first responders, fire, police, emergency medical services, and the larger emergency management community are invaluable resources and deserve our respect and praise for their selfless service. But, the true first responders, those who are present when the disaster occurs, deserve a fresh look considering their role on the front lines during a crisis.
The devastating shooting in Las Vegas comes on the heels of hurricanes Maria, Irma and Harvey, wildfires throughout the Western states, earthquakes in Mexico, a vehicle-borne attack in Edmonton, Alberta and others. In the world of natural hazards — floods, fires, and hurricanes — the idea of community involvement is not a new one. Two FEMA administrators, Craig Fugate and Brock Long, have now promoted this approach, acknowledging the important role citizens play in response efforts. During FEMA Administrator Long’s Aug. 28 press conference, he stated, “We need citizens to be involved … we need the whole community.”
What would you do if you were in the crowd when shots are fired, or on the street when a truck is speeding your way, or in a movie theater, a school, or your workplace when an active shooter strikes? Many are left asking these questions, but rather than feeling helpless, it is time we empower our public with the same authority that we have done for natural hazards. When seconds matter, first response must be crowdsourced and driven by the community, our neighbors, friends and family.
As we learn more about the tragedy in Las Vegas, there are countless examples of survivors implementing spontaneous evacuations, sheltering, triage, treatment and transport. Stories like these, and others from the past two months, reinforce this truth: We are a responder nation. It is everyday heroes who rise to the occasion. Civilians with modest training can make a difference. Equipping the public can take many forms; it may be teaching non-linear protective actions, such as “Lock Out, Get Out, Take Out”, or basic methods of treating traumatic injuries, such as applying a tourniquet to stop the loss of blood. Proper interventions performed quickly reduce impact and improve survival rates.
The entire community has a role in building a responder nation, and it must start with each one of us. We cannot rely exclusively on the government’s efforts. There have been top-down attempts at general preparedness (ready.gov, “Stop the Bleed”, CPR/AED and first aid), but most have been only modestly effective. In the area of active threat events, many agencies urge the public to be prepared, but there has yet to be a widely adopted national standard.
On Sept. 11, 2017, Long said, “I really think that we have a long way to go to create a true culture of preparedness within our citizenry in America.” The first step? Let’s start with a subtle shift in mindset from how we view preparedness today. I agree with Long, and would add that during an active threat event, your body cannot react to what your mind cannot perceive. The threat is real. We all have a role in preparedness. We are a responder nation, and the next step is yours.
Kyle McPhee is director of Preparedness Programs for Hagerty Consulting, an emergency management and disaster response firm.
