The authors present the issues surrounding increasing violence against healthcare professionals, especially in regions where the geopolitical or socioeconomic conditions have created environments with lack of security. One major issue cited is the lack of ongoing research into these issues.
The Burning of the US Capitol Building, 1814. From the very beginnings of its contruction, the US Capitol Building was plagued by conflict between the chief engineer Benjamin Henry Latrobe, who desired a durable and fireproof design, and Congress, which pushed for rapid completion of the building with limited expense. The result was a mixed contruction, with parts of the building constructed to withstand a major fire and others constructed with lumber. Following the fire, Latrobe conducted a relatively thorough investigation, revealing the various points of failure and recontructing the timeline of the disaster. However, as far as the public was concerned, the disaster was the result of diplomatic and military failures, rather than any engineering failures.
The Hague Street Explosion, 1850. Steam power was widely used in the United States, but safety protocols and standards were not widespread nor maintained by any particular agency. The exact nature and cause of the boiler explosion at Hague Street was widely debated by various experts, engineers, and laypersons. The federal government scrambled to enact new laws regarding boiler inspection and safety with little effect in reducing boiler-related disasters, while city officials instead chose to remember the disaster through a fund-raising campaign for the victims' families.
The Iroquois Theater Fire in Chicago, 1903. The disaster called into question the integrity of the building code system in the city of Chicago and caused widespread debate regarding who should be responsible for enforcing building codes. The disaster resulted in a rapid expansion of fire code and fire safety standards and the creation of a network of investigators, comprised of engineers, insurance agencies, testing labs, and fire officials. However, the pressure for such action and progress soon declined as the government, press, and public moved on from the disaster.
The author supports his case by citing various articles of legislation, highlighting the anecdotal accounts from affected immigrants, and presenting the perspective of physicians who are tasked with caring and treating for these patients.
In addition to coordinating the various local, state, and federal resources in the response efforts to a disaster, FEMA provides various resources to emergency response organizations including education and funding.
As previously stated, the author relies on anecdotal evidence provided by patient interviews and the observations made by the author. In addition, the author presents statistical data on patients in the regions referenced in the article.
The BSVAC consists of EMTs of various ages who provide service to the Bedford-Stuyvesant area of Brooklyn. The organization responds to approximately 1,300 emergency calls annually.
The authors present the modernization and globalization of nations and the emerging global threat of infectious diseases as the primary catalysts for the intersection of various organizations concerned with biosecurity and public health. Numerous national and multi-national organizations have reacted to this emerging threat by developing new strategic frameworks to promote prevention and preparedness. The increase in tension among various organizations on developing effective strategies is indicative of the overlapping fields of national security, biosecurity, public safety, and global health.
The primary responsibility of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is "...to assure safe and healthful working conditions for working men and women by setting and enforcing standards and by providing training, outreach, education and assistance." The mission is to improve the safety and health of workers in all industries.
The author presents the numerous issues, both ethical and logistical, surrounding the Riker's Island prison as the primary motivating factors behind the calls to reform or shut down the facility, both from government officials and the public. The author cites a variety of sources supporting these movements.
In presented her case, the author relies on statistical and scientific data from numerous sources as well as anecdotal evidence from historical accounts of survivors and field data.