Drowning can happen quickly and silently, and it’s one of the leading causes of accidental death in young children-especially those ages 1–4. As parents and caregivers, being proactive about water safety can make all the difference. Whether you’re headed to a pool, lake, beach, or simply supervising bath time at home, these practical, life-saving tips will help you protect your child.

I’m thrilled to share some exciting news-my latest book is now available on Kindle! 🎉 This collection brings together real-world accounts of caring for individuals in their most vulnerable moments, across diverse geographies, cultures, and crises. From resource-limited settings to emergency zones and everyday moments of human need, these stories reflect the resilience, compassion, and complexity of care…

Preparedness is quiet work. It happens when there is no emergency headline, no urgency, and no external pressure. Between disasters, preparedness looks like training, relationship-building, policy development, and reflection. These moments determine how systems perform when crisis returns. Preparedness is not reactive. It is deliberate. The time to prepare is always before the next emergency. #adventureswithnursejamla

Resilient health systems are not defined by their ability to respond once, but by their capacity to absorb shock, adapt, and continue functioning over time. Resilience includes: Protected and supported workforces Flexible care models Integrated public health and healthcare systems Continuous learning and improvement Resilience is built between disasters, not during them. Preparedness is the foundation of resilience, not its outcome. #adventureswithnursejamla

Technology plays a vital role in modern preparedness, but it is not a substitute for trained, adaptable humans. When systems fail, power goes out, or networks are disrupted, people remain the most critical resource. Preparedness planning must account for low-tech and no-tech scenarios. Training, redundancy, and human judgment are essential during crises. Technology should support preparedness, not replace it. Prepared people make systems resilient. #adventureswithnursejamla

Misinformation spreads faster than most pathogens. During emergencies, false or misleading information undermines trust, delays care, and fuels fear. Preparedness must include risk communication strategies that address misinformation proactively. This includes transparent messaging, trusted messengers, and digital literacy efforts. Public health emergencies are not only biological or environmental events, but they are also information events. Systems unprepared to manage misinformation face amplified harm. Preparedness requires truth, clarity, and trust. #adventureswithnursejamla

Chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive (CBRNE) events are low-frequency but high-impact emergencies. Their rarity often leads to complacency, until preparedness gaps become catastrophic. CBRNE preparedness requires specialized training, interagency coordination, and clear communication protocols. Healthcare systems must be prepared to protect staff, manage contamination, and provide care under extreme conditions. Preparedness is not alarmism. It is risk-informed responsibility. Ignoring CBRNE readiness does not eliminate the threat, it increases harm when events occur. Preparedness is protection. #adventureswithnursejamla

Climate-related health impacts are not theoretical. Extreme heat, wildfires, flooding, drought, and vector-borne disease expansion are already affecting health systems and communities. Preparedness failures appear when infrastructure is overwhelmed, populations are displaced, and health services are disrupted repeatedly. Climate change magnifies existing vulnerabilities and exposes gaps in emergency planning, housing policy, and health equity. Preparedness must include climate adaptation strategies, heat mitigation, resilient infrastructure, and community education. Treating climate change as a future concern delays necessary action. Preparedness for climate impacts is preparedness for today. #adventureswithnursejamla

Public health preparedness is often shaped by the last crisis rather than the next one. While lessons from recent emergencies matter, preparedness that only looks backward leaves systems vulnerable to emerging threats already on the horizon. These include climate-driven disasters, antimicrobial resistance, cyber disruptions to health infrastructure, industrial accidents, and complex humanitarian emergencies. Many of these threats are interconnected, cross-border, and prolonged, challenging traditional response models.

My name was given to me by my paternal grandmother. It is her namesake. It has been in our family for generations. My name is more than what you call me. It carries the history, the struggles and the stories, of all those who had the name before me.

Preparedness is often framed as technical competence, but it is also a moral commitment. Who we prioritize, who we protect, and whose voices we elevate reveal the values underlying preparedness efforts. Preparedness without justice reinforces existing inequities. Preparedness with justice seeks to reduce harm, restore dignity, and protect those most at risk. As this week closes, preparedness should be understood not only as readiness for disaster, but as readiness to care for one another fairly, deliberately, and compassionately. Preparedness is not just about surviving emergencies.It is about how we choose to show up before they arrive. #adventureswithnursejamla

Faith-based and grassroots organizations are often the first trusted points of contact during emergencies, especially in communities with historical mistrust of government or healthcare institutions. These organizations: Disseminate trusted information Provide shelter, food, and emotional support Reach populations missed by formal systems Sustain recovery long after headlines fade Preparedness efforts that exclude community organizations miss critical infrastructure already in place. Public health readiness is strongest when formal systems partner with grassroots leaders rather than operating around them. #adventureswithnursejamla

I’m excited to announce that Adventures with Nurse Jamla is now offering California BRN–approved Continuing Education for nurses! Courses are self-paced and tailored for clinicians working in: Emergency & Trauma Disaster & Humanitarian Response Prehospital & Austere Care Course catalog now live: Please share with your networks, I appreciate the support, and if you have a topic you want to learn more about, add it to the wish list on the website! #adventureswithnursejamla

For displaced populations and communities affected by conflict, preparedness looks very different. When instability is ongoing, emergencies overlap and recovery is incomplete. Displaced populations often face: Insecure housing Interrupted healthcare access Language and legal barriers Chronic trauma and stress Preparedness in these settings requires flexibility, cultural competence, and trauma-informed approaches. Traditional preparedness models built for stable systems often fail in humanitarian and conflict-affected contexts. Preparedness must adapt to reality, not ideal conditions. #adventureswithnursejamla

Hospitals, emergency operations centers, and supply chains matter—but trust is the infrastructure that determines whether people follow guidance, seek care, or cooperate during emergencies. Without trust: Warnings are ignored Misinformation spreads Fear replaces coordination Public health measures fail Trust is built over time through transparency, consistency, cultural humility, and accountability. It cannot be manufactured during crisis. Preparedness efforts that invest in community relationships before disasters occur respond faster and more effectively when emergencies arise. Trust is not supplemental to preparedness,it is foundational. #adventureswithnursejamla

Public health preparedness guidance is often standardized for efficiency, but communities are not uniform. Geography, culture, language, infrastructure, and lived experience all shape how preparedness measures are received and acted upon. What works in one community may fail entirely in another. Preparedness fails when: Messaging is culturally mismatched Plans assume resources people do not have Trust in institutions is low…

Preparedness planning often centers on healthy adults, yet children, older adults, and medically fragile individuals are among those most affected during public health emergencies. These populations face unique vulnerabilities: Medication and equipment dependence Limited mobility or communication ability Reliance on caregivers and support systems Higher risk of complications during disruptions For children, disasters disrupt not only physical safety but emotional security, education, and development.

Public health emergencies do not affect all communities equally. While disasters may be indiscriminate in their arrival, their impacts are profoundly shaped by social, economic, and structural conditions that exist long before an emergency occurs. Preparedness is a health equity issue because access to information, resources, healthcare, transportation, and safe housing determines who can prepare, and who cannot. Communities facing poverty, language barriers, chronic illness, disability, or systemic marginalization often experience:

In what ways do you communicate online? I use all social media platforms because I find it is the best way to stay connected to many people all over the world. Texting is great, but with time differences and restrictions on types of communication methods depending on the country, social media allows me to share my platform for everyone to peruse at their leisure.

Every disaster response depends on people who show up when others cannot. Yet preparedness conversations too often focus on what responders owe systems, rather than what systems owe responders. Preparedness is a two-way commitment. If we expect healthcare workers to respond, we must prepare to protect, support, and sustain them, before, during, and after emergencies. Preparedness that honors the workforce is preparedness that lasts. #adventureswithnursejamla

Disasters affect not only bodies, but minds. Fear, uncertainty, moral distress, and cumulative trauma are predictable features of emergency response. Psychological preparedness includes: Education about stress responses Peer support systems Leadership acknowledgment of emotional impact Access to mental health resources Preparing clinicians psychologically does not weaken them, it strengthens their ability to function under pressure. Ignoring psychological readiness places unnecessary strain on individuals and systems alike. #adventureswithnursejamla

Healthcare training often prioritizes high-frequency scenarios, leaving low-probability, high-impact events underemphasized. Yet disasters rarely resemble routine operations. Chemical exposures, mass casualty incidents, pandemics, and infrastructure failures demand skills that cannot be improvised under stress. Preparedness requires: Competency-based training Scenario realism Interdisciplinary drills Regular refreshers Training for rare events builds confidence, reduces panic, and improves coordination when systems are under pressure. Preparedness is built in rehearsal, not reaction. #adventureswithnursejamla

Preparedness begins with knowledge, especially when it comes to Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD). Chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats remain a real concern for healthcare systems, emergency responders, and public health professionals. Whether the risk stems from terrorism, industrial accidents, or global instability, clinicians must be ready to recognize, respond, and protect. The New York State Emergency Nurses Association (NYSENA)

Hospitals invest significant time and resources into preparedness, yet real-world emergencies repeatedly expose the same vulnerabilities. The issue is rarely a lack of planning; it is how preparedness is conceptualized. Common pitfalls include: Plans that are never practiced Limited frontline clinician involvement Overreliance on technology Minimal attention to psychological readiness Preparedness is not a binder on a shelf. It is a culture built through training, trust, and shared responsibility.

Surge capacity is often discussed in terms of beds, ventilators, and supplies. Yet surge capacity collapses quickly when the workforce becomes ill, injured, or exhausted. Without adequate protection, surge plans are theoretical. Workforce protection includes: Reliable PPE and exposure protocols Clear occupational health policies Support for family and dependent care Transparent risk communication Healthcare workers cannot sustain surge operations if they fear for their safety or the safety of those they love. Protecting the workforce is not separate from patient care, it is foundational to it. Preparedness planning that excludes workforce protection is planning for failure. #adventureswithnursejamla