Disaster Prepardness

Definitions and General Concepts

  • Disaster: Any distressing and clamorous event that happens unexpectedly, is uncontrolled, and is psychologically shocking. It can be either natural or man-made (accidental or deliberate).

Types of Disasters

  • Internal Disasters: Events that occur within a healthcare facility (e.g., fire, flooding of hospital).

  • External Disasters: Events that occur outside a healthcare facility that cause an influx of patients to the facility (e.g., tornado hitting a nearby area).

Disaster Response Plans

  • Creation of formal plans that are often written and practiced with hospital staff and surrounding communities through a multidisciplinary team approach.

  • Agencies like FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) provide assistance during significant disasters, such as floods.

Disaster Focus Shift

  • During a disaster, the focus shifts from individual patient care to prioritizing those most likely to survive.

  • Triage: System of prioritizing patients based on the severity of their condition and the resources available.

    • Aim to benefit the most patients overall rather than focusing on individual needs.

Specific Disasters Discussed

Fire Safety

  • Three Essentials for a Fire:

    • Combustible material: Something that burns (liquid, solid, gas).

    • Oxygen: Air needed to sustain the fire.

    • Heat source: To ignite the combustible material.

  • Common Causes of Fires in Healthcare:

    • Smoking around oxygen supplies and electrical issues.

  • Fire Prevention and Safety Measures:

    • Implement a fire management plan based on good housekeeping, maintenance, and training.

    • Emergency phone number and knowing where fire extinguishers and alarms are located in the facility.

  • Training and Drills: Regular fire drills are necessary to ensure staff knows the evacuation procedures and safety measures.

Evacuation Procedures

  • Evacuation Steps:

    • Rescue: Save anyone in immediate danger first.

    • Alarm: Activate the fire alarm and alert others.

    • Confine: Close doors to contain the fire and limit smoke spread.

    • Extinguish/Ignite: Use a fire extinguisher if it is safe to do so. If not possible, evacuate.

  • Using a Fire Extinguisher:

    • PASS Technique:

    • Pull the pin,

    • Aim at the base of the fire,

    • Squeeze the handle,

    • Sweep from side to side.

  • Types of Fire Extinguishers:

    • Type A: Water-based for ordinary combustibles (wood, paper).

    • Type B: Dry powder for flammable liquids or grease fires.

    • Type C: Chemical for electrical fires.

Tornado Preparedness

  • Tornado Watch vs. Warning:

    • Watch: Conditions are favorable for a tornado but none have been confirmed.

    • Warning: A tornado has been sighted or indicated by radar; immediate action required.

  • Safety Precautions:

    • Seek shelter in interior rooms away from windows; close doors and curtains to limit injury from glass.

    • Evacuate non-ambulatory patients with assistance using appropriate methods (e.g., wheeling, blanket drag).

Bomb Threat Response

  • Importance of keeping the caller on the line to gather information and assess the threat. Focus on distinct characteristics of the caller.

  • Emergency plans for bomb threats should be known to all staff members.

Crisis Management

  • Crisis Definition: A state of intense emotional upset, causing disorganization of coping mechanisms.

  • Types of Crisis:

    • Developmental Crisis: Occurs during expected life changes (e.g., aging, life cycle events).

    • Situational Crisis: Results from an unanticipated event (e.g., disaster events).

Crisis Intervention Methods

  • Initial Assessment: Evaluate the crisis, determine coping mechanisms, and identify the best actions to take.

  • Phases of Crisis:

    • Confusion, denial, anger, sadness, acceptance, and moving towards a new normal.

  • Goals of Intervention: To assess, implement plans to restore functioning, reduce stress, and facilitate understanding of emotions.

Triage Systems

  • Triage Categories:

    • Red (Immediate): Severe injuries requiring immediate treatment (e.g., not breathing, uncontrolled bleeding).

    • Yellow (Delayed): Serious injuries needing treatment but not immediately life-threatening.

    • Green (Minimal): Walking wounded; injuries are minor.

    • Black (Expectant): Injuries that are not survivable with current resources.

Final Note on Emergency Preparedness

  • Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS): Documents that provide information on hazardous materials in the workplace, detailing handling, risks, protective measures, and first aid.

  • Trained responses to bioterrorism and potential active shooter situations: Training staff to recognize, report, and respond appropriately in real-time incidents to ensure personal and community safety.