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

Burnout is often framed as an individual resilience problem. In reality, burnout is a predictable outcome of system-level preparedness failures. When healthcare workers are asked to function without adequate staffing, training, rest, or support, exhaustion is inevitable. Burnout reduces situational awareness, increases errors, and weakens response capacity during prolonged emergencies. Preparedness must include: Reasonable work-rest cycles Psychological safety Leadership visibility…

..to be a voice for those throughout the world through my Adventures with Nurse Jamla platform, and to support the growth of the nursing profession.

Daily writing prompt What are your thoughts on the concept of living a very long life? View all responses Ultimately, I believe that my destiny is already written. What is important for me is to make a difference everyday in the lives of others so that I don't look back on my life and wonder what I did with it. I don't want to regret anything in life, so no matter how long I am on this earth, what matters most is what I did in the service of others.

Preparedness fatigue is real, especially for healthcare workers and public health professionals. Constant vigilance, repeated crises, and prolonged uncertainty take a toll. When preparedness becomes framed as “always on,” people burn out. Sustainable preparedness acknowledges human limits. Effective preparedness systems: Normalize rest and recovery Rotate responsibilities Build redundancy Support mental health Preparedness that exhausts people ultimately weakens systems. Readiness must be sustainable to be effective. #adventureswithnursejamla

Do you spend more time thinking about the future or the past? Why? ..stare straight ahead to the future.

Human beings are not wired to prepare for low-frequency, high-impact events. If something has not happened recently, we assume it will not happen at all. This disconnect between risk perception and reality explains why many people underprepare for disasters. Familiar risks feel manageable. Unfamiliar risks feel distant. Public health preparedness must account for this reality. Education alone is not enough. Messaging must be relevant, relatable, and actionable. Preparedness improves when people understand not just what to do, but why it matters to their daily lives. Risk communication is preparedness. #adventureswithnursejamla

What is the greatest gift someone could give you? ..the ability to fix all things that are broken, and heal all those that are suffering.

Individual preparedness is often reduced to emergency kits. While supplies matter, preparedness is far more than a checklist. True individual preparedness includes: Awareness of local risks Access to reliable information A basic emergency plan Medication continuity planning Psychological readiness for disruption Prepared individuals are better able to care for themselves and support others during emergencies. This reduces strain on emergency systems and allows responders to focus where they are needed most.

What colleges have you attended? St. Joseph’s College of Nursing University of Phoenix Capella University BIDMC @Harvard WGU

Healthcare professionals are central to disaster response, yet many are introduced to emergency management concepts only during a crisis. Understanding the emergency management cycle is essential, not just for response, but for effective preparedness and recovery. The emergency management cycle provides a framework for understanding how disasters are managed before, during, and after they occur, and where healthcare professionals fit into every phase.

🎓 Academic Degrees & Graduate Certificates (Nursing/Healthcare Focused) 1. Graduate Certificate in Emergency Preparedness/Emergency Management Nursing Jax State - The Friendliest Campus in the South Designed for nurses who want specialized knowledge in emergency preparedness, disaster response, and medical aspects of emergency management. Typically 100% online and can later count toward a master’s degree. 2. Healthcare Emergency/Disaster Management Certificate Home - East Carolina University…

One of the greatest barriers to preparedness is perception. For many, preparedness is associated with fear, alarmism, or worst-case thinking. This framing does more harm than good. Preparedness is not panic. Preparedness is empowerment. Being prepared does not mean expecting disaster every day. It means understanding risk, knowing where to find accurate information, and having basic plans in place so that decisions are not made under extreme stress.

Preparedness is often misunderstood as something that only matters when disaster strikes. In reality, public health preparedness is a daily investment, one that determines how well individuals, communities, and health systems withstand disruption long before an emergency is declared. From pandemics and climate-related disasters to supply chain failures and emerging infectious threats, preparedness is no longer a niche concern reserved for emergency managers.

The end of the year always brings reflection, but for nurses, especially those in disaster response, emergency medicine, pediatrics, humanitarian work, and public health, the reflection hits differently. You don’t just think about the past year.You feel it in your body, in your memory, in your heart. You remember the moments that defined you, the losses that changed you, the victories that sustained you, and the quiet strength you had to summon again and again.

As December comes to a close, many people look back on the year with celebrations, milestones, and memories. But for nurses-especially those in emergency care, disaster response, humanitarian work, pediatrics, trauma, and public health-the year feels different. You remember the moments that tested you.The shifts that felt impossible.The deployments that took everything out of you.The grief you had to swallow so you could keep working.

Compassion fatigue doesn’t arrive suddenly.It builds slowly-shift after shift, deployment after deployment, crisis after crisis. It sounds like: “I’m so tired and I don’t know why.” “I care, but I feel numb.” “Everything feels heavier than it used to.” “I’m doing the work, but my heart feels disconnected.” This is not failure.It is not weakness.It is not a lack of dedication.

There is a quiet truth every nurse knows but rarely says out loud: Some days you show up while feeling completely undone inside. You show up with: stress grief worry exhaustion heartbreak doubt fear emotional overwhelm And yet, you still bring compassion, skill, and presence to the people who need you. This is not about pushing through recklessly. It’s about acknowledging that nurses are human-and being human doesn’t make you any less extraordinary.

Tthird seminar of the World Health Organization (WHO) and National Health Service England (NHSE) sponsored Working for Health 2030 Program, 2025/2026 seminar series, entitled ‘Embracing Complexity: Systems Thinking for Health Workforce Strengthening’ which will take place on Tuesday 27th January 2026 11:00 – 13:00 GMT. Seminar Introduction The modern world is complex, and modern healthcare is no exception. Patients increasingly present with multi-morbidities and long-term conditions, while demographic shifts and diverse expectations make standardized approaches inadequate. 

Not all leadership in nursing looks like charge duties, positional authority, or formal titles.Some of the most impactful leaders in healthcare are the quiet ones-the nurses who lead through calm energy, cultural humility, and steady presence rather than volume. This form of leadership is especially vital in disaster settings, emergency departments, shelters, and high-stress holiday seasons. Gentle leadership is not passive.

Preparedness is not a checklist to complete or a document to file away. It is a continuous practice shaped by learning, reflection, and adaptation. This month highlighted that preparedness: Is a shared responsibility Requires equity and trust Depends on people, not just systems Must be sustained over time Preparedness is how we show up for one another before emergencies force us to. January may end—but preparedness continues. #adventureswithnursejamla

Nurses are expected to be strong-steady, composed, unshakable.But beneath the surface, many nurses carry a grief that rarely leaves room to breathe. Holiday lights go up.Families gather.The world celebrates. But for nurses, the season often brings: memories of patients lost, stories that never resolved, images that still haunt, exhaustion layered on exhaustion, reminders of the things we’ve missed-time, rest, family, milestones.

Ask any nurse-it’s never just the procedures, the codes, or the clinical tasks we remember. It’s the people. Some patients fade into the background of a busy shift…but others take root in our hearts forever. Their faces, their stories, their fear, their courage, their families, their final moments, their survival-these stay with us in ways we often struggle to explain.

Nursing is full of visible work-assessments, medications, procedures, documentation, patient teaching.But some of the most powerful parts of nursing happen quietly, without recognition, without applause, and without anyone truly understanding the emotional strength it requires. This is especially true in disaster zones, emergency departments, shelters, and high-stress holiday seasons. Nurses show up not because the world sees them-but because the people who need them can’t afford for them not to.

Nurses are known for their compassion, their patience, and their ability to show up fully for people experiencing the worst moments of their lives. But here’s the truth many nurses struggle with: You can care deeply and still need boundaries.You can be compassionate and still say no.You can be present and still protect your energy. In high-stress settings-disasters, EDs, shelters, humanitarian missions, and holiday surge seasons- boundaries are not cold or selfish.

There is a type of work nurses do that never appears in job descriptions, training manuals, or performance evaluations-yet it shapes every shift, every interaction, and every deployment: emotional labor. It’s the work of managing the emotional climate of a room-even when your own emotions are stretched thin.It’s the unseen effort of absorbing tension, calming panic, and maintaining stability when everything feels unstable.