Disaster Management

*8 Principles of Disaster Management* - answer1. Prevent disaster 2. Minimize casualties (if disaster cannot be prevented) 3. Prevent further casualties 4. Rescue victims 5. Provide first aid 6. *Evacuate injured to medical facilities* (large nursing job) 7. Provide definitive medical care 8. Promote reconstruction of lives (bring community back to a sense of normalcy) What is important to know about the *principles of disaster management* - answerThese must be implemented in *PROPER SEQUENCE*, or they will be ineffective and possibly detrimental to disaster victims This is a *coordinated* community effort *DRR* - answerDisaster Risk Reduction Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) - answerOur number ONE GOAL is to PREVENT DISASTER Aims to *reduce the damage* caused by natural hazards like earthquakes, floods, droughts, cyclones, and disease through an ethic of *prevention* greatest good for the greatest number; because we must *prioritize resources* Disaster Severity - answerDisasters often follow *other* natural hazards The severity depends on how much impact a hazard has on *SOCIETY* and also the *ENVIRONMENT* Disaster Severity- society - answerrefers to the severity of a disaster based on the *vulnerability* of a given society *Disasters occur when vulnerable individuals and communities are impacted by environmental hazards* *Vulnerability* can also include *specific populations, like elderly and children* direct vs. indirect victim - answerDirect- an individual who is immediately affected by the event Indirect victim- may be a family member or friend of the victim or first responder *Displaced persons* - answerThose who must evacuate their homes, schools, or businesses as a result of disaster *Refugees* - answerA group of people who have fled their country as a result of famine, drought, natural disaster, war, or civil unrest *key is GROUP* *Categories of DISASTER* (How to meet the criteria of a "disaster" for funding) - answerOccurrence: natural or man made *Must cause HUMAN SUFFERING and creates HUMAN NEEDS that victims CANNOT alleviate without assistance!!* Mass vs. Multiple CI - answerMass- over 100 Multiple- greater than 2; but less than 100 *Mitigation* (KNOW) - answerASSUMES that disasters are *inevitable....* HOWEVER! Refers to *actions* taken to reduce loss of life and property damage by *LESSENING THE IMPACT* of disasters This means acting in the NOW, before the next disaster, to reduce the consequences *Preventability* - answerAssumes that all disasters are *NOT* inevitable; certain steps *CAN BE TAKEN* to *prevent them* e.g. cleaning out the forests to prevent forest fires Factors that impact the SCOPE and SEVERITY of disasters (all) - answerVulnerability of population Environmental conditions: chemical, physical, biological, & social Warning time & proximity to disaster Individual perception & response Vulnerability of Population (factors that impact scope and severity of disasters) - answerThose most severely affected by a disaster are the physically handicapped who have limited mobility or are wheelchair dependent people who are ventilator dependent or attached to other life-support equipment the mentally challenged older persons, who might have trouble leaving the area quickly young children whose immune systems are not fully developed persons with respiratory or cardiac problems. Physical factors (factors that impact scope and severity of disasters) - answerInclude time when the disaster occurs, weather conditions, the availability of food and water, and the functioning of utilities such as electricity and telephone services For example, communities that loose electricity for longer periods have a more difficult time coping with the disaster than those who are without power for a day or so *also, think physical ENVIRONMENT:* forest fires; temperature outside; precipitation; weather; time fotehyear; etc. -PHYISCAL ENVIRONMENT* Chemical Factors (factors that impact scope and severity of disasters) - answerLeaks of stored chemicals into the air, soil, groundwater, or food supplies Biological factors (factors that impact scope and severity of disasters) - answerThose that occur or increase as a result of - water contamination - improper waste disposal - insect or rodent proliferation -improper food storage -lack of refrigeration owing to interrupted electricity service. Social factors (factors that impact scope and severity of disasters) - answerLoss of family members, changes