NCM 121: Disaster Nursing Notes

NCM 121: Disaster Nursing Notes

The Philippines - A Disaster Risk Epicenter

• The country is notably situated in the Pacific Ring of Fire, making it highly prone to various disasters.

Types of Disasters

• Disasters can be categorized into three primary types:

  • Natural Disasters

  • Defined as a highly harmful impact on society or communities following a natural hazard event.

  • Examples of natural hazard events include:

    • Flooding (Hydrological)

    • Landslide (Geophysical)

    • Earthquake (Geophysical)

    • Typhoon (Meteorological)

    • Volcanic Eruptions (Meteorological)

    • Biological Hazards

  • Man-made Disasters

  • Involve human intent, negligence, or error, typically resulting from a failure of man-made systems.

  • Examples include:

    • Vehicular Accidents

    • Arson/Fire Incidents (Negligence)

    • Terrorism

    • Biological/Chemical Warfare

    • Cyber-attacks (Technological)

  • Synergistic Disasters

  • Are combinations of natural disasters and human-induced incidents.

  • An example is the Fukushima Power Plant Accident in Japan (2011).

Disaster Cycle

• Disaster practitioners view disasters as recurring events consisting of four phases:

  1. Mitigation

  2. Preparedness

  3. Response

  4. Recovery

• The diagram illustrating this cycle shows that all communities are in at least one phase of emergency management at any given time.

Disaster Management Efforts in the Philippines

• Due to the country's vulnerability to disasters, several efforts over the years include:

  • Joining 167 nations at the World Conference on Disaster Reduction in Japan.

  • Approval of Republic Act No. 10121, the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act.

  • Development of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Framework.

  • Formulating national plans and policies for disaster management.

  • Public dissemination of information about the Disaster Cycle.

Vulnerability

• Vulnerability refers to conditions stemming from physical, social, economic, and environmental factors that increase a community's susceptibility to the effects of hazards, such as natural disasters.

Prevention and Mitigation

• This phase includes actions taken to prevent or reduce the causes, impacts, and consequences of disasters. Examples of mitigation strategies include:

  • Reinforcing homes with quality materials.

  • Digging water channels to redirect excess water.

  • Ensuring homes are located away from floodplains.

Preparedness

• The preparedness phase involves planning, training, and education in anticipation of future disaster events.

• Examples of preparedness activities include:

  • Developing disaster preparedness plans that outline actions, safe locations, and contact numbers for assistance during emergencies.

  • Conducting drills, tabletop exercises, and full-scale exercises to practice response plans.

  • Creating a supply list for essential items in a disaster, often referred to as a Go Bag.

  • Engaging in training and courses related to First Aid and Emergency Response.

Disaster Impact

• Potential impacts of disasters can manifest as:

  • Injuries

  • Death

  • Epidemics

  • Physical Illnesses

  • Sanitation Issues

  • Miscarriages

  • Hypothermia

  • Fatigue and Sleep Loss

  • Loss of Appetite

  • Mental Health Disorders

Response Phase

• The response phase occurs immediately following a disaster when various emergency teams mobilize to aid affected individuals.

• Key aspects of the response phase include:

  • Conducting search and rescue missions.

  • Taking protective measures for personal and public safety.

  • Addressing public health concerns, including food safety and water sanitation.

Rehabilitation & Recovery

• This phase involves concurrent efforts to restore functionality along with regular operations after a disaster, although recovery can be prolonged. Examples include:

  • Integrating disaster risk reduction (DRR) considerations into social, economic, and housing development plans.

  • Incorporating DRR elements into the planning and management of human settlements.

  • Preventing stress-related illnesses and managing financial burdens associated with recovery.

  • Rebuilding structures using lessons learned from prior disasters.

Role of Nurses in Disaster Response

• Nurses play a critical and continuous role during disaster response by applying knowledge and skills to minimize health risks for victims. Their contributions include:

  • Identifying emergency hierarchies.

  • Awareness of emergency response plans.

  • Properly using emergency equipment, including personal protective gear.

  • Exhibiting effective communication skills focused on welfare.

  • Delivering care independently of physician directives where necessary.

  • Conducting triage assessments.

  • Utilizing sensory evaluations of patients without high-end medical equipment.

  • Providing care to patients with various health conditions in crisis situations.