Because security incidents often result in physical harm to staff, security risk management necessarily involves emergency medical considerations. Even in the absence of conflict and violence, health challenges among staff can range from exposure to diseases to exacerbation of chronic illness to life-threatening injuries. These require clear mechanisms for prevention, preparedness and response. This chapter outlines the essential elements required for managing medical risks and incidents, including preparedness, first aid and emergency response and medical transfer.
Many of the medical challenges organisations face are preventable, and the ability to effectively respond often depends on non-medical considerations, including pre-departure health assessments, robust staff safety and frameworks for senior staff on how to handle medical incidents. A good understanding of the health and medical risks affecting staff and the surrounding healthcare landscape is critical. This involves including relevant health and medical risks in risk assessment exercises and mapping available healthcare resources.
In addition to preventive measures, medical emergency preparedness will help ensure timely and appropriate responses and evacuations. Equally important is encouraging staff to report illnesses or injuries early, and maintaining medical confidentiality at all times.
Having staff well-trained in first aid is an important aspect of preparedness and is the single best mitigation measure to reduce the impact of a medical emergency. In remote or resource-limited environments, first aid training should focus on immediate and effective care when professional medical help may not be readily available.
Aid programming often takes place in areas where access to timely medical care is limited. Rapid response to medical emergencies is critical, as delays in treatment can have severe consequences. Good practice considerations include plans and protocols for:
American Red Cross (n.d.) First aid training.
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