Disaster Management (Part 2)

Disaster Management

Requires an interdisciplinary, collaborative team effort and involves a network of agencies and individuals to develop a disaster plan that covers the multiple elements necessary for an effective plan.

Stages of Disaster Management

1. Prevention Stage

2. Preparedness and Planning Stage

3. Response Stage

4. Recovery Stage

Prevention Stage

- Occurs before a disaster is imminent; also known as non disaster stage

- Potential disaster risks should be identified and risk maps created.

- Analysis of population demographic, vulnerabilities and community's capabilities

Geohazard Maps

are used to identify areas prone to natural dangers like landslides, flooding, and ground subsidence or sinking

Department of Environment and Natural Resources

spearheaded the creation of the geohazard maps through its Mines and Geosciences Bureau which contains the agencies and their websites from which the geohazard maps may be accessed and downloaded.

Primary Prevention

Measures:

- Educating the public regarding what actions to take

- Develop a plan for meeting the potential disasters identified

- HCP need to be more knowledgeable about biological and chemical agents that might be used for bioterrorist attacks and its signs and symptoms

Guidelines for Early Detection of Biochemical Terrorist Incidents

- Rapid increasing disease incidence (within hours or days) in a normally healthy population.

- Unusual increase in the no. of people seeking care esp. With fever, respiratory or GI complaints

Guidelines for Early Detection of Biochemical Terrorist Incidents

- Endemic disease rapidly emerging at an uncharacteristic time or in an unusual pattern

- Cluster of patients arriving from a single locale.

Guidelines for Early Detection of Biochemical Terrorist Incidents

- Large number of rapidly fatal cases-patients who die within 72 hours after admission to the hospital

- Any patient presenting with a disease that is a relatively

uncommon and has bioterrorism potential (e.g. pulmonary anthrax, smallpox, or plague)

Preparedness and Planning Stage

Individual and family preparedness would include:

- Training in first aid

- assembling a disaster emergency kit

- establishing a predetermined meeting place away from home

- making a family communication plan.

Emergency Supplies (Sample)

- Food (good for 3 days, nonperishable)

- Clean air (face masks, materials to seal off a room)

- First aid kit

- Family plan (how to contact each other, diff situations)

Preparedness and Planning Stage

At work and school

- Schools, day care providers, workplaces, apartment buildings, and neighborhoods should all have site-specific emergency plans.

Preparedness and Planning Stage

In a high-rise building

- Plan for the possibility

- Note where the closest emergency exit is

- Be sure you know another way out in case your 1st choice is blocked so you must have a plan B.

- Take cover against the desk or table if things are falling.

Preparedness and Planning Stage

In a high-rise building

- Face away from windows and glass to avoid injuries.

- Move away from exterior walls.

- Do not use elevators

- Always Stay to the right while going down a staircase to allow emergency workers to come up.

Preparedness and Planning Stage

Water

- Store at least a 3 day-supply; 1 gallon per day per person.

- Store water in clean plastic bottles.

Preparedness and Planning Stage

Supply checklist

- Basic supplies include flashlight, batteries, radio, garbage bags, map, moist towelettes, whistle, clothing, bedding and tools.

Preparedness and Planning Stage

Special needs item

- Prescription medications

- special items for infants (diapers, formula), elders, or PWDs

Preparedness and Planning Stage

In a moving vehicle

- If the vehicle becomes difficult to control, it is important for us to pull over in order for us to avoid accidents

- Avoid road hazards

- Always Obey barriers and signs

Preparedness and Planning Stage

Deciding to stay or go

- 1st important decision

- understand and plan for both possibilities

Elements of Community Disaster Plan

- Authority

- Communication

- Control

- Logistical coordination of personnel

- Supplies and equipment

- Evacuation and rescue

- Care of the dead

Authority

- designated by the title of the person

- backup positions identified

- A clear chain of authority for carrying out the plan is critical for successful implementation of the plan

- may change depending on whether the disaster is natural or manmade

Communication

- reliance on telephone systems or cellphones should not be the sole planned means

- Should address how the authority figure will be notified of the disaster, how emergency management team members will be notified, how community residents will be warned about the incident and what actions will be required

Communication

- address how communication between relief workers and authorities will be maintained

- include information on the role of the informed and in letting people know what assistance or supplies are needed

- early warning stage

Communication

- Credible, current, and authoritative and must give some indication of future events.

- analysis of the population during the non-disastrous stage should identify groups that need special attention to the process of notification

Communication

- Logistical Section

- Human Resources

- Evacuation and Rescue

Logistical Section

where supplies and equipment are located or additional or where additional supplies and equipment can be obtained from

Human Resources

emergency and disaster specialists, officials of government, and voluntary agencies, engineers, weather specialists, and community leaders should be identified and tracked where they will be located

Evacuation and Rescue

- vulnerable groups and transportation

- documentation and record keeping and plans for evaluation of the success or failure of the plan

Response Stage

- Begins immediately after the disaster incident course

- Community Preparedness plans developed are initiated

- Evacuation, Search and Rescue, Staging Area, Disaster Triage, Psychological Triage

Evacuation

Established evacuation routes for the residents to use if evacuation from the are is necessary

Search and Rescue

- Once clearance is given, disaster triage is established, and an emergency treatment area is set up.

- before it should begin, safety MUST be considered.

Staging Area

- On-site incident command station.

- Disaster responders should report to this area in order to "check in" so that everyone is accounted for and can be given an assignment.

- Where authority rests for decisions as to additional resources to be called to the area to manage the disaster incident.

Staging Area

Resources may include:

1. Construction equipment to move building materials.

2. Rescue dogs to locate humans who are buried in the debris.

3. More fire, police, or medical personnel.

Disaster Triage

- To do as little as possible, for the greatest number, in the shortest period of time.

- START: "simple triage and rapid treatment"

- Disaster triage of an injured person should occur in less than 1 minute.

- Green, Yellow, Red, Black, Contaminated

START: "simple triage and rapid treatment"

- This system describes what to do when first arriving at a multi-casualty or mass casualty incident.

- This system also describes how to enlist people with minor injuries to assist

Green

walking wounded, minor injuries (cuts and abrasions); can wait several hours before receiving treatment.

Yellow

those with systemic but not yet life-threatening complications; can wait 45-60 minutes (e.g. simple fractures).

Red

top priority or immediate and is for those with life-threatening conditions but who can be stabilized; high probability or survival (e.g. amputations).

Black

deceased; extensive injuries that nothing can be done to save them (e.g. multiple severe injuries).

Hazmat Tag

- a new classification of victims

- those who are contaminated

Assessing within 1-minute guideline

First step: RR is checked, if >30 cpm, individual is tagged red or immediate (tachypneic), if

Psychological Triage

- Presents the challenge of determining who most needs help and deciding what interventions will help.

- Mental health disorders r/t disasters can include: anxiety disorders, exacerbation of existing substance abuse problems, somatic complaints, depression and later PTSD

Psychological Triage

4 Key factors to gauging mental health impact of such events:

1. Extreme and widespread property damage

2. Serious and ongoing financial problems

3. High prevalence of trauma in the form of injuries, threat to life and loss of life

4. When human intent caused the disaster

Recovery Stage

Begins when danger from the disaster has passed and concerned local and national agencies are present in the area to help victims rebuild their lives and help community restore public services

Recovery Stage

- clean up of the damage and repair of homes and businesses

- Evaluation and revision of the disaster plans

- Understanding the financial impact on the community and agencies involved

Research

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

- needed on education and training needs

- nurses play a significant role

Government Responsibilities

- Responsible for safety and welfare of its citizens

- First responders: responsible for incident management at the local level (police, fire, public health, public works, medical emergency services)

First responders

For biological or chemical terrorist incident:

- nurses and doctors in health care facilities

For other incidents (not biological, chemical, radiation, or nuclear event):

- In most cases it is the fire or police department

117

- national worldwide emergency hotline - number for police assistance, so that's fire protection, and Philippine Red Cross among others

- EO 226

Public Health System

- mission is promotion of health, prevention of disease and protection from threats to health.

- describe all of the governmental and nongovernmental organizations and agencies that contributes to the improvement of the health populations.

Public health agencies

the primary agency for the health and medical response to a disaster and therefore, are part of the initial response activities

Primary health officials

provide advice and assistance to all the other public officials also related to environmental and health matters