Disaster Management
Disaster Management
UNIT: UNIT 1
DATE: 16.12.20
TIME:
GENERAL OBJECTIVE:
AT THE END OF THE SEMINAR, THE STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO GAIN KNOWLEDGE
ON DISASTER MANAGEMENT AND WILL ABLE APPLY IN CLINICAL PRACTICE
SPECIFIC OBJEVTIES:
1. Definition of Disaster
2. Types of disaster
- Natural
- Man made
- Mix
3. The epidemiology of disaster
- Agent
- Environment
- Host
4. The phases of disaster management
- Preventive mitigation
- Preparedness
- Disaster
- Environmental response
- Rehabilitation and Reconstruction
5. The principles of disaster management
6. Disaster management committee
7. Introduction to Disaster Nursing
8. Qualities of a nurse working in disaster management team
9. Triaging
- Need of triage
- Color code
- Advantages
- Who will triage
- Tagging in triaging
10. Role of disaster management nurse with respect to the phases of disaster
management
11. Summary
12. Conclusion
13. Bibliography
INTRODUCTION:
DEFINITION:
1. Disaster is any occurrence that causes damage, ecological disruption, loss of human life or
deterioration of health and health services on a scale sufficient to warrant an extraordinary response
from outside the affected community or area. (WHO 1995)
2. An occurrence of a severity and magnitude that normally results in death, injuries and
property damage that cannot be managed through the routine procedure and resources of
government. - FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency)
3. A disaster can be defined as an occurrence either nature or man made that causes human
suffering and creates human needs that victims cannot alleviate without assistance.
- American Red Cross (ARC)
TYPES:
1. Natural
2. Man made
3. Mixed
EPIDIMIOLOGY OF DISASTER:
1. AGENT
- Primary agents include falling buildings, heat, wind, rising water and smoke.
- Secondary agents include bacteria and viruses that produce contamination or infection after the
primary agent has caused injury or destruction.
2. HOST
- Human kind.
- Age, sex, immunization status, pre-existing health, degree of mobility, emotional stability,
3. ENVIRONMENT
- PHYSICAL FACTORS
- CHEMICAL FACTOR
- BIOLOGICAL FACTORS
- SOCIAL FACTORS
- PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS
B. DISASTER PREPAREDNESS:
Disaster preparedness refers to measures taken to prepare for and reduce the effects of disasters. That
is, to predict and, where possible, prevent disasters, mitigate their impact on vulnerable populations,
and respond to and effectively cope with their consequences. (International Red Cross)
Activities are undertaken to handle a disaster when it strikes.
Activities include
Disaster Preparedness Plan
Emergency communication plan
Prevent spread of disease outbreak
Public Education and awareness
IMPACT OF DISASTERS:
- Death
- Severe injuries requiring extensive treatment
- Increase risk of communicable diseases and epidemics outbreak
- Excess NCD mortality
- Mental health (disaster syndrome)
- The destruction of the health care infrastructure,
- Damage water supply and basic sanitation
- Food shortage and Malnutrition
- Population movement and migration
Aims of disaster plans : To provide prompt and effective medical care to the maximum possible in order to
minimize morbidity and mortality.
Objectives: To optimally prepare the staff and institutional resources for effective performance in disaster
situation. To make the community aware of the sequential steps that could be taken at individual and
organizational levels.
PRINCIPLES OF DISASTER MANAGEMENT (GRAB AND ENG 1995)
a. Prevent the occurrence of the disaster whenever possible.
b. Minimize the number of casualties if the disaster cannot be prevented.
c. Prevent further casualties from occurring after the initial impact of the disaster.
d. Rescue the victims.
e. Provide first aid
f. Evacuate the injured to medical facilities.
g. Provide definitive medical care.
h. Promote reconstruction of lives.
TRIAGE :
In French, verb “trier” means to sort. Triaging is the process of determining the priority of patients'
treatments by the severity of their condition or likelihood of recovery with and without treatment. It
prioritises patient treatment efficiently when resources are insufficient for all to be treated immediately;
influencing the order and priority of emergency treatment, emergency transport, or transport destination
for the patient.
❖ BLACK code: Deceased are left where they fell. These include those who aren't breathing and
repositioning their airway efforts were unsuccessful.
❖ RED code: evacuation by ambulance as they need advanced medical care at once or within 1
hour. These people are in critical condition and would die without immediate assistance.
❖ YELLOW code: can have their medical evacuation delayed until all immediate people have been
transported. These people are in stable condition but require medical assistance.
❖ GREEN code: are not evacuated until all immediate and delayed persons have been evacuated.
These will not need advanced medical care for at least several hours. Continue to re-triage in
case their condition worsens. These people are able to walk, and may only
need bandages and antiseptic.
ADVANTAGES OF TRIAGE:
TAGGING IN TRIAGE:
✓ Name
✓ Age /Sex
✓ Place of Origin
✓ Triage Category
✓ Diagnosis
✓ Initial Treatment
- Risk assessment and analysis: Identify previous disaster , local climate conducive to disaster
formation understand the magnitude of disaster, the coping strategies of the locals, current
community disaster plan, health personnel available, health facilities available , local agencies and
organizations.
- Diagnose Community Disaster : Nurse should determine actual and potential disaster threats,
preventive measures is been taken care of , is there collabative activites are undertaken, are the
people aware about the disaster, and community preparedness
Objectives:- To insure the appropriate system procedures & resources are in place to provide prompt
effective assistance to disaster victims, thus facilitating relief measure & rehabilitation services.
b. PROFESSIONAL PREPAREDNESS:
o Prepared disaster preparedness written plan
o Control room Rapid Response Team
o License and health resources personal equipment, such as a stethoscope, a flashlight and
extra batteries, Cash, Warm clothing and a heavy jacket (or weather-appropriate clothing),
Record-keeping materials, Pocket-sized reference books
c. COMMUNITY PREPAREDNESS :
“A prepared community is one which has developed effective emergency and disaster management
arrangements at the local level, resulting in :
• Alert, informed and active community
• Supports its voluntary organizations.
• Active and involved local government.
• Agreed and coordinated arrangement
• Education on First aid program, Making each home to store, Emergency telephone numbers,
Battery operated radio, Flash light, First aid kit, Three day supply of water, Medical
information &family physician detail, Persons to be notified in emergency
3. Role of a nurse in disaster impact and response “Actions taken in anticipation of, during and
immediately after impact to ensure that its effects are minimized and that people are given immediate
relief and support”.
➢ DISASTER IMPACT
A set of principles which provide a framework for managing any event includes following points
- Command
- Control
- Coordination
- Communication
- Clinical Management
- Continuity
- Capability
➢ NURSES’ TASK IN DISASTERS IMPACT:
• Determine magnitude of the event
• Define health needs of the affected groups
• Establish priorities
• Identify actual and potential public health problems
• Determine resources needed to respond
• Collaborate with other professional disciplines, governmental and non-governmental agencies
• Maintain a unified chain of command
• Communication
MENTAL WELLNESS:
Mental stress is the major concern during any disaster. In any major disaster, people want to know the
well being of their loved once.
In case of loss, people need to mourn. Giving them space for mooning, finding family friends or local
healers to encourage and support them is very important. Most of them are back to normal within 2
weeks. About1% to 3%, may need additional help.
Common Psychiatric disorders observed after any disaster includes- Acute stress reaction, post
traumatic stress disorders (ptsd), adjustment disorders, depressive disorders , acute psychosis,
dissociative disorders, anxiety disorders, suicides, personality changes, crises intervention
SUMMARY:
To summaries, disaster is any sudden occurrence that causes damage, ecological disruption, loss of human life
or deterioration of health and health services. They care of natural, man-made and mix type. Disaster
management involves with a set of principle. Disaster mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery are the
main phases of disaster management and nurse have very important role in each of these phases. Triaging is
the key element in disaster to priorities care and use of available resources. There has to be training programs
to know the job and responsibility of each member in the disaster management team.
CONCLUSION: Disaster is an unpredictable situation. Having set protocols and formulation of Disaster
committee is of great importance. Disaster management is a team work and every team member should be
aware of their role and responsibility so as to have a smooth functioning during the actual disaster
Nursing workforce is the integral part of disaster management team. They should work with confidence
command, co –ordination and control with the effective use of communication skill in the affected
community.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
JOURNALS
1.Walker,Peter;International search and rescue teams,A league discussion paper;geneva;League of
the Red Cross and Red Crecent societies;28:37:1998.
2.Singh J;72 hours kits,an article from home security guru;Indian Journal of public
health;20:43:2002.
Web sites
www.ready.gov
www.onestorm.org
www.fema.gov
www.who.org
www.un.orgwww.healthalerts.com