Five Great Careers in Disaster Preparedness
- Unit Manager
- Emergency Management Specialist
- Medical Support Aide
- Regional Medical Laboratory Scientist
- Disaster Preparedness Educator
Today's emergency management degree can lead to any number of exciting and life-saving disaster preparation careers. Emergency and disaster preparedness is all about planning for and the attempted prevention of natural and even man-made disasters. How are these important ambitions achieved? Here are five careers making it happen right now.
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1. Unit Manager
A unit manager, often referred to as a "clinical manager", is a professional who manages the day-to-day activities of a particular clinical practice or practice area. While this individual often carries out activities unrelated to emergency preparedness, it is also this person's responsibility to coordinate and maintain the responsiveness of their respective practice with regard to emergencies and disasters. As localized or even widespread emergencies can occur at any time and be of virtually any nature, it is important for all potentially affected areas of practice to be so prepared.
2. Emergency Management Specialist
An emergency management specialist is someone who works in operational support when a disaster strikes. This is an on-call position only for those ready to spring into action when the initial fog of disaster is still thick and difficult to navigate. This role helps to coordinate efforts and activities taking place in a large-scale emergency response effort using communications, technology, managerial organization methods, and more. Most of these specialist careers are found exclusively within the federal and state governments.
3. Medical Support Aide
In emergencies, one often overlooked component to the fray is that of the continuation of medical services in those with a prior need. As services and supply chains become disrupted during emergencies, the need for medication and medical services in those already requiring them can actually escalate and multiply. The professional medical support aide is thus the professional solely responsible for focusing on maintaining these critical lines of services to those who need them most during a disaster. While some work in this role as government employees, many others work for private companies who are then contracted by the government in such emergency situations.
4. Regional Medical Laboratory Scientist
In some emergency situations, the need for scientists on the ground can be great and immediate. This is especially true in cases of hazardous bio-contamination, natural and man-made. Consequently, regional medical laboratory scientists often fill this important professional need when the time comes. A day in action in this role can have the worker quickly transported to a disaster location, involved in setting up a command post and laboratory, and then using that laboratory in conjunction with field investigation to then solve problems and gain answers that will bring to an end the disaster and its resulting suffering and destruction.
5. Disaster Preparedness Educator
Also known as a disaster preparedness consultant, the disaster preparedness educator is a professional who is deeply knowledgeable in disaster preparedness and response who then uses that expertise to educate clients in those very matters. What supplies should be kept on-hand? What are the best emergency plans for my business? These are the types of questions answered by this specialized consultant for all kinds of clientele – big businesses, small family businesses, non-profits, and even private citizens.
When emergencies strike, preparedness and organized, logical response methods are required components to a quick and most ideal solution. Those working in this area of expertise represent a special knowledge and unique ability to save lives and alter significant events that many others can't. In conclusion, for more information on disaster preparation careers available with or without an emergency management degree the National Emergency Management Association is an excellent resource with which to inquire further.