First responders are those who are usually the first to arrive at an emergency or accident scene and include police, medical and fire department personnel. The offices which coordinate emergency management services, local health departments and public hospitals are also crucial elements of emergency preparation and response. The first responders in many of our rural areas are volunteers. Their departments usually receive some federal assistance for training and equipment but most funding is provided locally. First responders often transport accident victims to hospitals that are also locally owned and operated. Health advocates claim most rural communities barely have enough resources to provide adequate healthcare for the populations they serve. Most would be incapable of providing much assistance to victims of a large-scale disaster or terrorist attack.
These shortcomings were woefully exposed during the COVID-19 pandemic, where many states faced critical shortages of personal protective equipment, ventilators and other needed supplies. These states struggled to acquire PPE from our Strategic National Stockpile and at times were issued expired supplies, leaving most hospitals without the necessary equipment to counter this global disaster. Advocates say we must reduce our dependence on foreign suppliers by boosting domestic production of these critical items.
Pending Legislation:
H.R.7574 - Strengthening America's Strategic National Stockpile Act of 2020 (passed House 9/21/20)
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