Emergency & Disaster Nursing Review

Forty question-and-answer flashcards covering core concepts from Emergency & Disaster Nursing Week 2 lecture notes.

What key factor distinguishes a DISASTER from an emergency?

A disaster exceeds the affected community’s ability to cope with its own resources, while an emergency may not.

What does the acronym HEVC stand for in disaster causation?

Hazard, Exposure, Vulnerability, Capacity.

According to the notes, what is the formula for Disaster Risk?

(Hazard × Exposure × Vulnerability) ÷ Capacity = Disaster Risk (HEV / C).

Which Philippine law is known as the Climate Change Act of 2009?

Republic Act 9729.

Which law created the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010?

Republic Act 10121.

What overall shift in approach do Philippine disaster laws aim to achieve?

From being reactive to becoming proactive in all disaster phases.

Which government department chairs the NDRRMC?

The Department of National Defense (DND).

Name any two of the four vice-chair agencies of the NDRRMC.

Possible answers: DOST, DILG, DSWD, NEDA (any two are correct).

Which agency leads Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, and during which phase does this occur?

Led by DOST during the Pre-Disaster Phase.

Which agency leads Disaster Preparedness activities?

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

Who leads the Disaster Response Phase, and when is it activated?

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) leads during the impact/response phase while the disaster is ongoing.

During Disaster Recovery and Rehabilitation, which agency takes charge?

The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).

In a Go Bag, what does the "S" in the acronym STOP represent?

Sarili – items for your own physiological needs such as food, water, clothing, phone, shelter materials.

How much drinking water should be stored per person in a Go Bag?

One gallon (about 3.8 L) per person, good for 3 days.

Who are classified as Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs)?

People forced to flee their homes for safety but who remain within their own country’s borders.

What is the key difference between an asylum seeker and a refugee?

Both flee their country, but a refugee is legally recognized and protected by the host country, whereas an asylum seeker is still awaiting that recognition.

List at least three vulnerable groups prioritized during disasters.

Any three: elders, children, women, minority groups, persons with disabilities (PWDs).

Give the three main sub-types of natural hazards mentioned.

Geophysical, Hydrometeorological, and Biological hazards.

How do hurricanes, cyclones, and typhoons mainly differ from one another?

By the ocean basin of origin: hurricanes in the Atlantic, cyclones in the Indian Ocean, and typhoons in the West Pacific.

What sustained wind speed now classifies a Philippine storm as a super typhoon (Signal #5)?

185 km/h or higher.

Which rainfall warning color represents severe rainfall?

Red warning.

The mnemonic "PH BATS" lists Category A bioterrorism agents. What organism causes the plague in this list?

Yersinia pestis (plague bacterium).

What virus causes smallpox, a Category A agent?

Variola virus.

In the Incident Command System, what does “PLIS” (command staff) stand for?

Public Information Officer, Liason Officer, Incident Commander, Safety Officer.

In the Incident Command System, what does the “FLOP” (general staff) acronym denote?

Finance, Logistics, Operations, Planning Sections.

What guiding principle underlies disaster triage?

Do the greatest good for the greatest number of patients using limited resources.

What does a RED tag mean in disaster triage?

Immediate priority – the patient needs life-saving care right now to survive.

Under START triage, what timing makes a YELLOW patient potentially deteriorate?

If definitive care is delayed beyond 2 hours, yellow patients may worsen.

In adult START triage, at what respiratory rate is a non-assisted patient immediately tagged RED?

Greater than 30 breaths per minute (or if breathing requires manual assistance).

During JumpSTART (pediatric) triage, what spontaneous respiratory rate range is considered acceptable (not RED)?

15–45 breaths per minute.

Which level of PPE (A–D) provides a self-contained breathing apparatus and a fully encapsulating suit?

Level A PPE – the highest level of protection.

What does the acronym “RID” stand for in HAZMAT incident priorities?

Report the incident, Isolate the area, Decontaminate victims and responders.

In which zone (hot, warm, cold) is patient decontamination performed?

Warm Zone.

Name the three life-saving interventions allowed during disaster triage before tagging is completed.

Open the airway, control severe bleeding, administer antidotes (if indicated).

Which airway adjunct is appropriate for an unconscious adult without a gag reflex?

An oropharyngeal airway (OPA).

What late, tell-tale sign indicates a worsening tension pneumothorax?

Tracheal deviation away from the affected side.

Which clinical feature clearly differentiates Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) from Hyperosmolar Hyperglycemic State (HHS)?

Presence of ketones with metabolic acidosis (e.g., fruity breath and Kussmaul respirations) in DKA.

What is the specific antidote for nerve agents such as sarin or VX?

Atropine sulfate given intramuscularly.

Name the two shockable rhythms in adult cardiac arrest.

Pulseless Ventricular Tachycardia and Ventricular Fibrillation.

During a cardiac arrest, what does the acronym “RACE” summarize?

Recognize cardiac arrest, Activate emergency response, start high-quality CPR, Early defibrillation.