Mod. 1- disaster

• Disaster


  A serious disruption of the functioning of a community or a society at any scale due to hazardous events interacting with conditions of exposure, vulnerability, and capacity, leading to one or more of the following: human, material, economic and environmental losses and impacts
• Health disaster


  A catastrophic event that results in casualties that overwhelm the health care resources in the community and may results in a sudden unanticipated surge of patients, a change in standards of care, and a need to allocate scare resources
• Types of disasters


  • Natural (caused by natural or environmental forces)
  • Man-made or anthropogenic (human generated)
• Natural disaster


  The result of an ecological disruption or threat that exceeds the adjustment capacity of the affected community, including earthquake, floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, volcanic eruptions, ice storms, tsunamis, and other geological or meteorological phenomena
• Anthropogenic disaster


  The principal direct causes are identifiable human actions, deliberate or otherwise, including biological and biochemical terrorism, chemical spills, radiological (nuclear) events, fire, explosions, transportations accidents, armed conflict, and acts of war
• Human-generated disasters


  • Complex human emergencies (war, civil strife, political conflict)
  • Technological disasters (industrial accidents, unplanned release of nuclear energy, fires or explosions from hazardous substances)
  • Disasters not caused by natural hazards but occur in human settlements
• Hazard


  A potential threat to humans and their welfare and to public safety and/or public health
• Emergency


  An actual threat to public safety and/ or public health, any situation in which there is an imminent or actual disruption or damage to the communities
• Risk


  Potential consequences of hazard interacting with a community/ anticipated consequences of a specific hazard interacting with a specific community (at a specific time)
• Vulnerability


  Factors which determine the type and severity of the consequence (risks)
• Capacity


  An assessment of the ability to manage to an emergency (a risk modifier), total capacity is measured as readiness
• Community


  People, property, services, livelihood and environment, i.e., the elements exposed to hazards, with specific vulnerabilities and risks to each element
• Disasters affect the health status of a community in the following ways:
• Disaster Continuum or the Emergency Management Cycle


  • Planning/Preparedness prevention warning
  • Response emergency management mitigation
  • Recovery rehabilitation reconstruction evaluation
• Preparedness


  Proactive planning efforts designed to structure the disaster response prior to its occurrence, including evaluating potential vulnerabilities and the propensity for a disaster to occur
• Mitigation


  Measures taken to reduce the harmful effects of a disaster by attempting to limit its impact to human health, community function, and economic infrastructure
• Prevention


  A broad range of activities, such as attempts to prevent a disaster from occurring, and any actions taken to usually requires a significant amount of forethought, planning, and implementation of measures before the incident occur
• Response


  The actual implementation of the disaster plan, the organization of activities used to address the event, primarily focused on emergency relief such as first aid, minimizing and restoring damaged systems, and providing care and basic life requirements to victims
• Recovery


  Actions that focus on stabilizing and returning the community (or organization) to normal (its preimpact or improved status, instituting physical, behavioral and mental health interventions
• All hazards approach


  Involves taking the actions necessary to prepare for, respond to, and to recover from all types of hazards
• Participation by nurses in all phases of disaster planning is critical to ensure that nurses are aware of and prepared to deal with whatever these numerous other factors may turn out to be

  
• Essential features of professional nursing


  • Provision of caring relationship that facilitates health and healing
  • Attention to the range of human experiences and responses to health and illness
  • Integration of objective data with knowledge gained from an appreciation of the patient or group's subjective experience
  • Application of scientific knowledge to the processes of diagnosis and treatment through the use of judgement and critical thinking
  • Advancement of professional nursing knowledge through scholarly inquiry
  • Influence on social and public policy to promote social justice

  
• The frequency and intensity of natural and man-made disasters, the individuals and families affected by them, and the economic costs associated with loss have been steadily increasing over recent years
• While disasters are often unexpected, sound disaster planning and preparedness can anticipate common problems and mitigate the consequences of an event
• Different types of disasters are associated with distinct patterns of illness and injury, and early assessment of risks and vulnerability can reduce morbidity and mortality later on
• Disasters are different from daily emergencies; most cannot be managed simply by mobilizing additional personnel and supplies. Certain commonly occurring problems can be anticipated and addressed during planning
• Effective disaster plans and preparedness activities are based on knowledge of how people behave. Key components and common tasks must be included in any disaster preparedness plan
• Nurses are well positioned to participate as full partners with the medical, public health, and emergency management community in all aspects of disaster planning, mitigation, response, and recovery