Severe weather has been at the forefront lately. We had thunderstorms in Central Ohio this past week, and cleanup continues after deadly tornadoes hit nine states in the Midwest and South two weeks ago. The storms remind us of the importance of preparedness and training in responding to disaster areas, a topic so important to us here at the Columbus Medical Association and in the central Ohio community.

I was part of one of our community’s very first full-scale disaster preparedness exercises in the late 1970s, which was an experience that sparked my passion for health care. I was 11 or 12 years old when my Girl Scout troop gathered with hundreds of others in Columbus to respond to several disaster scenarios. In the photo below, I am in the plaid shirt helping carry our "victim" to safety.

It was an exciting event to be a part of—I remember being in awe of the physicians, firefighters, paramedics, and other experts walking us through steps to check vitals, stabilize our patients, and carry them to safety. Anyone who has been involved with an exercise of this kind knows it was intentionally chaotic to mimic a real disaster, so we could learn how to stay focused to help the “victims.”

The experience not only inspired my path to working in health care, but it also showed me how committed our city was to being fully prepared for disasters and engaging the community in that effort. That commitment continues today, with the leadership of the physician community through our affiliate, COTS.

Nearly 30 years ago, COTS began as a local resource serving Columbus with trauma prevention and education. Today, it serves nearly half of the state, supports physicians and other healthcare professionals, manages a trauma registry to improve care and survival rates of critically injured patients, and brings together the partners needed to prepare for, respond to, and help communities recover from disasters.

From mass casualty events and natural disasters to infectious disease outbreaks—COTS, led by President Sherri Kovach, is equipping our community with the resources and training needed to improve our health and safety. Just as I was in awe of the experts in the field decades ago, I am amazed at the dedication of the COTS staff, physicians and partners to keeping us all safe. When the worst happens, the best are ready.

There are many opportunities to get involved with COTS and understand your role in emergency preparedness. Go to www.cotshealth.org for more information.