Disaster Management (Part 3)

Philippine Red Cross

- Officially founded in 1947

- One of major NGO that work hand-in-hand with governmental agencies in disaster risk reduction

Philippine Red Cross

2 main functions:

- blood provision

- disaster-related services

RA 10072

- Philippine Red Cross Act

- specifically states the purpose of PRC

Philippine Red Cross

fundamental principles:

- humanity

- impartiality

- neutrality

- independence

- voluntary service

- unity

- universality

Philippines Red Cross

6 major services:

- National Blood Services

- Safety Services

- Social Services

- Volunteer Services

- Community health and nursing services

- Disaster Management Services

Safety Services

training in first aid, basic life support, water safety, accident prevention

Social Services

guidance and counseling, psychological support, tracing service, referral service, early livelihood recovery program, hot meals

Community Health and Nursing Services

Basic Health Education Program and Primary Health Care

Disaster Management Services

relief operations, deployment of disaster, response teams, organization of brgy. disaster action team, preposition of relief supplies

Community Response to a Disaster

- Heroic Phase

- Honeymoon Phase

- Disillusionment Phase

- Reconstruction Phase

Heroic Phase

nearly everyone feels the need to rush to help people survive the disaster

Heroic Phase

Medical personnel may work hours without sleep, under very dangerous and life-threatening conditions, in order to take care of their patients

Heroic Phase

Medical personnel may help out in areas with which they are not familiar and have no experience

Heroic Phase

Disaster Medical Assistance Teams, consisting of professional and paraprofessional medical personnel, provide emergency relief during a disaster and may travel long distances to help out in one

Heroic Phase

This was illustrated by the thousands of people who volunteered to help in the immediate aftermath of Typhoon Yolanda, Odette and COVID pandemic.

Honeymoon Phase

Individuals who have survived the disaster gather together with others who have simultaneously experienced the same event

Honeymoon Phase

People begin to tell their stories and review over and over again what has occurred

Honeymoon Phase

Bonds are formed among victims and health care workers

Honeymoon Phase

Gratitude is expressed for being alive

Disillusionment Phase

When time has elapsed and a delay in receiving help or failure to receive the promised aid has not occurred, feelings of despair arise

Disillusionment Phase

Medical personnel and other first responders may begin to experience depression due to exhaustion from many long days of long hours

Disillusionment Phase

Depression may set in as a result of knowledge about what has happened to the community, friends, and family

Disillusionment Phase

People realize the way things were before the disaster is not the way things are now and may never be again

Disillusionment Phase

They recognize that many things are different and much needs to be done to adjust to the current situation

Reconstruction Phase

Once the community has restored some of the buildings, businesses, homes, and services, and some sense of normality is returning, feelings of despair subside

Reconstruction Phase

Counseling support for victims and helpers may need to be initiated to help people recover more fully

Reconstruction Phase

During this phase, people begin to look to the future

Common Individual Response

Biological:

- Poor concentration

- Confusion

- Disorientation

- Indecisiveness

Common Individual Response

Biological:

- Shortened attention span

- Memory loss

- Unwanted memories

- Difficulty making decisions

Common Individual Response

Emotional:

- Shock

- Numbness

- Feeling overwhelmed

- Depression

- Feeling lost

Common Individual Response

- Fear of harm to self and/or loved ones

- Feeling nothing

- Feeling abandoned

- Uncertainty of feelings

- Volatile emotions

Common Individual Response

Physical:

- Nausea

- Lightheadedness

- Dizziness

- Gastrointestinal problems

Common Individual Response

Physical:

- Rapid heart rate

- Tremors

- Headaches

- Grinding of teeth

Common Individual Response

Physical:

- Fatigue

- Poor sleep

- Pain

- Hyperarousal

- Jumpiness

Common Individual Response

Behavioral:

- Suspicion

- Irritability

- Arguments with friends and loved ones

- Withdrawal

- Excessive silence

Common Individual Response

Behavioral:

- Inappropriate humor

- Increased/decreased eating

- Change in sexual desire or functioning

- Increased smoking

- Increased substance use or abuse

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

a psychiatric disorder that can occur following an individual experiences or witnesses a life-threatening event, such as a disaster

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

- Men and women, adults and children, and all socioeconomic groups can experience this

- require medical attention

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

People who have the disorder often relive the experience through nightmares and flashbacks

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

The social and psychological symptoms can be severe enough, and last long enough, to significantly impair a person's daily life

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Risks:

- living through dangerous events or traumas

- having a history of mental illness

- getting hurt

- seeing people hurt or killed

- feeling horror

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Risks:

- helplessness

- extreme fear

- having little or no social support after the event

- dealing with extra stress after the event such as loss of a loved one, pain and injury, or loss of a job or home

Research

needed on all aspects of prevention, preparedness, response and recovery stages of disasters

Research

also needed on the education and training needs of first responders, health care providers and community populations

Nurse researchers

in partnership with researchers from other disciplines, can play a significant role in conducting research on disaster management

Psychological Impairment

factors that play a part:

- panic during disaster

- separation from family

- relocation or displacement

Disaster Planning Principles

1. Measures usually taken are not sufficient for major disasters

2. Plans should be adjusted to people's needs

3. Planning does not stop with the development of a written plan

Disaster Planning Principles

4. Lack of information causes inappropriate responses by community members

5. People should be able to respond with or without direction

Disaster Planning Principles

6. Plans should coordinate efforts of the entire community, so large segments of the citizenry should be involved in the planning

7. Plans should be linked to surrounding area

Disaster Planning Principles

8. Plans should be general enough to cover all potential disaster events

9. As much as possible, plans should be based on everyday work methods and procedures

10. Plans should specify a person's responsibility for implement ing segments by position or title rather than by name

Disaster Planning Principles

10. Plans should develop a record-keeping system before a disaster occurs, regarding:

- supplies and equipment

- records of all present at any given time to account for everyone and to identify the missing

- identification of victims and deceased, conditions and treatment documented, and to which facility victims are sent

Disaster Planning Principles

12. Backup plans need to be in place for the following:

- disruption of telephone and cell phone lines

- disruption of computer data (should be downloaded weekly and stored off-site)

- protecting essential public health functions