Unit 7: Disaster Management Stages

What’s the prevention stage for disaster management?

Reduce risk & prepare systems

What’s All-Hazard Emergency Operation Planning (EOP)?

FEMA document that guides jurisdictions in writing own EOP (AKA Disaster Plan): an “emergency management bottom line”

What’s National Incident Management System (NIMS)?

Uses an all-hazards approach (natural, manmade, terrorist events) that can be scaled to any emergency

What’s Incident Command System (ICS) ?

provides clear chain of command with one Incident Commander (unity of command)

What’s the GOAL of Incident Command System (ICS) ?

avoid multiple leaders making contradictory or duplicate orders.

What’s the local Emergency Operation Planning (EOP)?

issues warnings, provides emergency public information, initiates evacuation and shelter

What’s the state Emergency Operation Planning (EOP)?

links local needs with federal response and coordinates unified government response

The incident commander has…

ultimate authority for oversight of the operation, decision-making responsibility, and coordination of activities of those involved in response.

What areas are nurses most helpful in during disaster management?

triage, treatment areas, and shelter management.

What’s the purpose of triage?

“greatest good for greatest number” (Utilitarian Principle)

What’s START?

Simple Triage and Rapid Treatment

What’s the main goal of START?

right patient to the right place at the right time with the right care provider

What’s a red tag for triage?

highest priority, life-threatening injuries with high probability of survival if treated (immediate)

What’s a yellow tag for triage?

second priority, systemic injuries that are not immediately life-threatening, can wait 45–60 minutes (delayed)

What’s a green tag for triage?

walking wounded, minor injuries, not life-threatening (minimal)

What’s a black tag for triage?

deceased or injuries too severe for survival (expectant)

What’s the first assessment for START?

“Who can walk over to the tree/flagpole? (identify least critical)

What’s a critical assessment?

Respiration, Perfusion, mental status (RPM)

If patient is not breathing after airway is checked, they will be identified as

dead (black tag)

What’s considered a red tag for respirations?

respiration rate > 30/min

How is perfusion assessed?

capillary refill less than 2 seconds

For perfusion, what is considered a red tag?

capillary refill greater than 2 seconds

How is mental status assessed?

“Open your eyes, close your eyes” AND “Squeeze my hand”

What’s a red tag for mental status?

unable to follow simple commands or unresponsive

What are the 4 main treatments for mass casualty scenes?

stop bleeding, stabilize pneumothorax, open airway and transport red tags

When do people get diagnosed w/ PTSD after a disaster?

S&S persists after 3 months of disaster (nightmares & flashbacks)

During a disaster we should be prepared for…

for initial sense of urgency, shock, grief, fear, anger, blaming, followed eventually by boredom