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NM DOH All Hazard Incident Management Glossary
Intro | A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W XYZ Sources
Download: NMDOH_IM_Glossary_May_2008 
Macule or Macula – a dermatological term that refers to an area of skin that differs in coloration from surrounding skin that is neither elevated above, nor depressed below, surrounding skin.
Malaise – a vague feeling of discomfort in the body, as at the onset of illness.
Management By Objectives – a management approach that involves a four-step process for achieving the incident goal. The Management by Objectives approach includes the following: establishing overarching objectives; developing and issuing assignments, plans, procedures, and protocols; establishing specific, measurable objectives for various incident management functional activities and directing efforts to fulfill them, in support of defined strategic objectives; and documenting results to measure performance and facilitate corrective action.
Mass Care – the actions that are taken to protect evacuees and other disaster victims from the effects of the disaster. Activities include providing temporary shelter, food, clothing, and other essential life support needs to those people that have been displaced from their homes because of a disaster or threatened disaster.
Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) – maximum permissible level of a contaminant delivered to any user of a public drinking water system. An MCL is an enforceable federal regulation.
Mechanical Ventilation - The use of a machine to assist in human respiratory effort.
Medical Countermeasures - include those drugs, biological products, and devices that meet the definitions of qualified countermeasure and qualified pandemic or epidemic product found in sections 319F-3 of the Public Health Service Act. See 42 USC 247d-7e. and which are used to prophylax, immunize, treat or otherwise assist individuals who have been infected during a pandemic or other public health emergency.
Medical Emergency - occurrence that results in sudden illness, injury and/or trauma causing medical conditions so acute and severe as to require immediate medical attention to prevent permanent damage to the health, other serious medical results, serious impairment to bodily function, serious and permanent lack of function of any bodily organ or part, or death. In general, a medical emergency is one that requires an individualized response to illness or injury. Examples of medical emergencies may include transportation or aviation accidents, explosions, accidents involving hazardous materials, and other incidents causing mass trauma. Public health emergencies can also be or evolve into medical emergencies. Likewise, medical emergencies can develop to an extent that they affect the population’s health, and by definition, become public health emergencies.
Response to medical emergencies will be led by local emergency management which will coordinate trauma, emergency medical, law, fire, and Hazmat personnel, and other resources, as required. When a medical emergency has exceeded the capacity of a local area and state and/or federal assets have been requested, the Department of Health will assist local and state emergency management in the response, consistent with its stated roles and responsibilities.
Medical Monitoring – a set of medical tests and physical exams specifically designed to evaluate whether an individual’s exposure could negatively affect that person’s health.
Medical Reserve Corps - a component of the Citizen Corps which coordinates volunteer health professionals, as well as other citizens with an interest in health issues, to provide ongoing support for community public health needs and resources during large-scale emergencies. Activities include assisting emergency response teams, providing care to victims with less serious injuries, and removing other burdens that inhibit the effectiveness of physicians and nurses.
Medical surge capability - The rapid expansion of the capacity ad thus capability of the existing healthcare system in response to an event that results in increased need of personnel (clinical and non-clinical), support functions (laboratories and radiological), physical space (beds, alternate care facilities) and logistical support (clinical and non-clinical equipment and supplies). The capability applies to an event resulting in a number of types of patients that overwhelm the day-to-day acute-care medical capacity.
Meningitis – inflammation of the brain and the spinal cord, most often caused by a bacterial or viral infection and characterized by fever, vomiting, intense headache, and stiff neck.
Message Maps – message maps are risk communication tools that help organize complex information and make it easier to express current knowledge. The key to message mapping is to develop three key messages, with a maximum of three supporting statements for each message.
Metabolism – the conversion of fuel to generate energy; Metabolite – any product of metabolism.
Metastasis – the transfer of diseased cells and tissue from one organ or part to another one not directly connected with it, as in cancer.
Minimal Risk Level (MRL) – an estimate of daily human exposure to a hazardous substance at or below which that substance is unlikely to pose a measurable risk of harmful (adverse) noncancerous effects. MRLs are calculated for a route of exposure (inhalation or oral) over a specified time period (acute, intermediate, or chronic). MRLs should not be used as predictors of harmful (adverse) health effects.
Mitigation – the activities designed to reduce or eliminate risks to persons or property or to lessen the actual or potential effects or consequences of an incident. Mitigation measures may be implemented prior to, during, or after an incident. Mitigation measures are often informed by lessons learned from prior incidents. Mitigation involves ongoing actions to reduce exposure to, probability of, or potential loss from hazards. Measures may include zoning and building codes, floodplain buyouts, and analysis of hazard-related data to determine where it is safe to build or locate temporary facilities. Mitigation can include efforts to educate governments, businesses, and the public on measures they can take to reduce loss and injury.
MMRS – Metropolitan Medical Response System – (HHS) A program intended to increase cities' ability to respond to a terrorist attack by coordinating the efforts of local law enforcement, fire, hazmat, EMS, hospital, public health and other personnel. In New Mexico, there is an MMRS in Albuquerque, and in Doña Ana County that is shared with El Paso, Texas.
Mobilization – the process and procedures used by all organizations—Federal, State, local, and tribal—for activating, assembling, and transporting all resources that have been requested to respond to or support an incident.
Monitoring – the repetitive and continued observation, measurement, and evaluation of an activity, output, outcome or situation to detect changes in human health or the environment over a period of time.
Monitoring and Debriefing – it is the responsibility of the Public Information Officer and staff to monitor coverage, track and correct rumors, and debrief and evaluate public information efforts and results, during an emergency.
Morbidity – sickness.
Moribund – dying; at the point of death.
Mortality – death. Usually the cause (a specific disease, a condition, or an injury) is stated.
MRC – Medical Reserve Corps
Multi-ethnicity - A group of individuals with varying cultural, linguistic, religious, behavioral or biological traits
Mutation – a change (damage) to the DNA, genes, or chromosomes of living organisms.
Mutual Aid Agreement – written agreement between agencies and/or jurisdictions that they will assist one another on request, by furnishing personnel, equipment, and/or expertise in a specified manner.
