Friday, January 24, 2025
The Long Beach Community Organizations Active in Disasters hosted an emergency preparedness event at Mount Sinai South Nassau’s Oceanside Medical Pavilion on Nov. 20.
The program, led by Dr. David Neubert, an emergency medicine expert, and Point Lookout’s Chief Medical Officer, featured hands-on training in “Stop the Bleed” and Narcan administration. The planning for this event was a collaborative effort between the organization and the hospital that spanned three months.
“Being prepared for an event will most likely make the individual willing to step up if needed and makes the scary part of an emergency not so scary anymore,” L.B. COAD member and former city councilwoman, Liz Treston, said. “Being prepared for any emergency, whether you use it or not in your lifetime, is important.”
The Stop the Bleed program, a national initiative, equips participants with skills to control life-threatening bleeding in emergencies. Through interactive demonstrations, attendees learned to apply tourniquets, pack wounds and use direct pressure—techniques that can prove invaluable in scenarios ranging from accidental injuries to natural disasters—the training aimed to empower attendees with the confidence to act effectively before professional medical help arrives.
The Narcan training, which focused on addressing the opioid crisis, taught participants how to recognize and respond to opioid overdoses using naloxone, a medication designed to reverse these life-threatening events. Participants were trained on administering Narcan via nasal spray or injection and were educated on the importance of seeking further medical assistance even after its use.
“As with many of the trainings that the LB COAD does, it comes from the public request,” Treston said. “It’s unfortunate that young people are dying because of opioid use.”
L.B. COAD, formed after Superstorm Sandy, is part of a national effort to prepare communities in the face of dangerous situations. A COAD is a local coalition that brings together various organizations to coordinate disaster response within a specific area, such as a neighborhood, town, county or state region. This local-level coordination differs from the broader, statewide efforts and resources provided by Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster at the state or territorial level.
Long Beach’s collaborates with organizations such as Mount Sinai South Nassau, the city’s public relations department, both Nassau County and Long Beach’s offices of emergency management, multiple nonprofits, Faith-based organizations and elected officials, to bring critical resources and training to the community. This training event was one of many the organization provides.
L.B. COAD’s mission, rooted in preparedness, emphasizes that “being prepared, not scared” is key to responding effectively in critical situations.
