#5 Disaster Medicine- definition, principles and terminology

Question 1

Definition of Disaster Medicine

Answer 1

Interdisciplinary medical speciality

=> with scientific and medical
approach

=> to disasters medical management and support

=> to populations

Question 2

How many Principles are there in Disaster Medicine?

Answer 2

6 Principles of Disaster Medicine

Question 3

What is the 1st Principle of Disaster Medicine?

Answer 3

Assure:
=> safety
=> security
- of the medical teams.

In losing a medic
=> the negative
consequences 
=> will be two-fold
=> DMS loses capability 
=> which is scarce already
=> medic
becomes a new casualty

Question 4

What is the 2nd Principle of Disaster Medicine?

Answer 4

The objective is
=> not to treat
=> not to secure

-> the single injured individual

• but to provide
  maximal volume of aid
  => for maximal number of casualties

Question 5

What is the 3rd Principle of Disaster Medicine?

Answer 5

Early hazard detection

=> followed by risk assessment

=> Triage

Question 6

What is the 4th Principle of Disaster Medicine?

Answer 6

Continuity of medical support has to be assured for every casualty:

=> medical
assistance first commences in area of damage with first aid

=> followed by primary
triage and evacuation

=> followed by first medical aid and medical evacuation

=> treatment in the hospital, if required

Question 7

What is the 5th Principle of Disaster Medicine?

Answer 7

All described medical activities

=> are in co-ordination with the activities

=> of other
structures of the URS (unified rescue team)

Question 8

What is the 6th Principle of Disaster Medicine?

Answer 8

Lessons learnt

=> from every disaster medical relief activity

=> are invaluable

=> for constant Disaster Medicine development

Question 9

Hazard

Answer 9

=> process
=> phenomenon
=> human activity

Cause:

• > loss of life
• > injury
• > other health impacts
• > property damage,
• > social and economic disruption
• > environmental degradation.
• Each hazard is characterised by
  => its location
  => intensity/magnitude
  => frequency/probabilit

Question 10

Risk

Answer 10

Potential:
=> Loss of Life
=> Injury
=> Destroyed/damaged
assets 

-> which could occur to => a system
=> society
=> community
- in a specific period of time.

Question 11

What are the 2 Types of Risks?

Answer 11

1) Acceptable Risk

2) Residual Risk

Question 12

What is Acceptable Risk?

Answer 12

Risk that is:
=> Tolerable by society

=> depends on existing conditions:

• > social
• > economic
• > environmental
• > political.

Probability for this is low.

Question 13

What is Residual Risk?

Answer 13

Disaster Risk

=> which remains even

=> when disaster risk reduction measures are implemented.

Question 14

Exposure

Answer 14

defines anything that is potentially at risk.

This includes: 
=> people
=> property
=> facilities
=> infrastructure; 

Located in
=> Risk prone areas
=> in AOD
=> Areas where hazards have been identified

Question 15

Vulnerability

Answer 15

Reduced ability of
=> an individual
=> group

• > to predict
• > to cope
• > to resist
• > to recover

From Effects
=> Natural Disaster
=> Man-made Disaster

Depends on
=> human/societal preparedness
=> exposure to the hazards

Question 16

Resilience

Answer 16

Ability of
=> system
=> community
=> society

exposed to hazards
=> to resist
=> to absorb
=> to accommodate
=> to adapt 
=> to transform
=> recover 

From Effects of a
Hazard
=> in a time efficient manner.

Question 17

Risk Factor

Answer 17

variable
=> whose existence

=> increases the particular hazard realization probability

=> in certain circumstances.

Question 18

Health Hazard Assessment

Answer 18

Process of
=> identification
=> analyses

-> of the entire
spectrum

=> of existing hazards
=> with potential to cause health harm
=> in given circumstances

Question 19

Preventative Measure

Answer 19

• > Activity
• > Capacity

=> with potential to
=> reduce the risk level.

Question 20

Disaster Risk Assessment

Answer 20

• qualitative approach
• quantitative approach

To determine
=> the nature
=> extent of disaster risk

By analysing
=> potential hazards

By Evaluating existing conditions of exposure and vulnerability

=> that together, could harm 
=> people
=> property
=> services
=> livelihood
=> the environment upon which they depend.

Question 21

Disaster Risk Management

Answer 21

Application of
=> disaster risk reduction policies
=> strategies

To:
=> prevent new disaster risk
=> reduce existing disaster risk
=> manage residual risk

Contributing to strengthening the => resilience
=> reduction of disaster losses.

Also defined as the process of preventative measures evaluation and selection

=> in order to minimize
=> eradicate assessed risk levels.

Question 22

How many Levels of Risk for Health and Life?

Answer 22

4 Levels of Risk for Health and Life

Question 23

What are the 4 Risks for Health and Life?

Answer 23

1) Low Risk
2) Moderate Risk
3) High Risk
4) Threat

Question 24

What is Low RIsk?

Answer 24

probability of a hazard

=> to inflict limited negative effects on health status.

No additional preventative action is required

Question 25

What is Moderate Risk?

Answer 25

when more than half the risk factors are identified => for realisation of the hazard => severity of the consequences will have an impact on the population at risk. It is necessary to take planned preventative measures => that are sufficient to reduce the likelihood => of realization of the hazard

Question 26

What is High Risk?

Answer 26

ALL NECESSARY risk factors are available => the impacts will have negative consequences on the population and society as a whole. Introduction of the planned preventative measures reduces => to a certain extent- the potential of the hazard => to cause negative consequences

Question 27

What is Threat?

Answer 27

HIGHEST LEVEL of risk. => All risk factors have been identified => Severe consequences are expected and taking preventative action can only reduce the severity => of the consequences to a certain extent. Does not reduce likelihood of hazard to realize its potential.