Emergency preparedness is crucial for saving lives and minimizing disruption for individuals and communities during a crisis. Strengthening preparedness encourages confidence to respond quickly and reduces recovery time after an emergency.
The following two data points help to understand both individual preparedness and service provider readiness.
EMS Response Times
EMS response times are collected by the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare (IDHW). The data includes the time it takes between receiving an emergency call and responding to the call (chute time), the time to drive to the patient (drive time) and the average time to transport a patient to an emergency department (transport time).
Disaster Readiness
In a representative survey of EIPH residents, respondents were asked the following question:
“A ‘disaster’ is an event that could threaten lives, disrupt public or emergency services like water and power, or damage property. Have you and your family considered preparing for a disaster?”
Two thirds of respondents (66%) had either taken steps to prepare or make preparedness part of their every day life. Below is a list of ways respondents reported having prepared for a disaster or emergency in the last year.
- Prepared supplies and secured proper documents: 80%
- Learned and practiced safety measure: 48%
- Developed emergency plans: 45%
- Took CPR or first aid class: 41%
- Signed up for alerts and warnings: 35%
- Practiced emergency drills with family or community: 17%
More details can be found in the dashboard.