Chapter 18:Disaster Management

Question 1

When does the mitigation phase of disaster management begin?
a. Before the disaster occurs
b. During the disaster
c. Immediately following the disaster
d. During the recovery period

Answer 1

ANS: A
Disaster management includes four stages: prevention and mitigation, preparedness, response,
and recovery. The first stage, mitigation, takes place before a hazardous event occurs.

Question 2

In the event of a disaster localized to one district, what group would most likely direct the
community nursing response?
a. Canadian Red Cross
b. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention
c. Centre for Emergency Preparedness and Response (CEPR)
d. Paramedics

Answer 2

ANS: C
The CEPR (under the umbrella of the Public Health Agency of Canada [PHAC]) is
responsible for coordinating services required to handle all health risk and security threats in
Canada. It provides a comprehensive program to train and certify Health Emergency
Response Teams to respond to emergency situations in Canadian communities. Although
paramedics play an important role in disaster management, a known director, such as the
CEPR, must coordinate the response.

Question 3

After surviving a house fire, a 5-year-old begins sucking his thumb and wetting his bed. What
would be the best community health nurse (CHN) intervention?
a. Explain to the child that it is important to be strong and not act like a baby.
b. Reassure the family that this behaviour is a normal reaction to a traumatic
experience.
c. Recommend admission into a hospital for psychological counselling.
d. Recommend behaviour therapy to treat regression.

Answer 3

ANS: B
The effects of a traumatic experience can be especially severe on young children, who may
resort to regressive behaviours such as sucking the thumb, wetting the bed, crying, and
clinging to caregivers as a coping mechanism. This regressive behaviour is a normal response
to trauma.

Question 4

On the second day after a disaster, a disaster relief worker is found to be irritable and having
difficulty focusing. He denies having any problem other than a headache. Which is the best
action?
a. Dismiss the problem of inability to focus as probably being the result of worry, so
that the worker can concentrate on the work at hand and deal with his emotions
later.
b. Explain to the relief worker that he is experiencing signs and symptoms of
psychological stress and recommend that he take some time off from work to relax.
c. Explain to the worker that his problem arises from multitasking and advise him to
focus on one task at a time.
d. Suspect dehydration and encourage the worker to drink more fluids.

Answer 4

ANS: B
Early symptoms of stress and burnout include minor tremors, nausea, inability to concentrate,
difficulty thinking, and problems with memory. Suppressing feelings of guilt, powerlessness,
anger, and other signs of stress eventually will lead to more serious symptoms, such as
irritability, fatigue, headaches, and distortions of bodily functions. It is normal to experience
stress, but it must be treated. The worst thing anyone can do when experiencing stress is to
deny that it exists.

Question 5

What level of prevention is the CHN implementing when participating in the development of
a community-wide disaster management plan?
a. Primary prevention
b. Secondary prevention
c. Tertiary prevention
d. All prevention levels

Answer 5

ANS: A
Developing a disaster management plan for the community constitutes primary prevention,
which takes place before a disaster occurs.

Question 6

What is the purpose of disaster planning?
a. Decreasing global instability
b. Disrupting and altering community functioning
c. Managing response to disasters
d. Preventing disasters

Answer 6

ANS: C
Although natural disasters cannot be prevented, much can be done to prevent more accidents,
deaths, and destruction following a disaster. A concise, realistic, and well-rehearsed disaster
plan is essential for managing the response to disasters.

Question 7

What is the ultimate contribution of the disaster preparedness plan?
a. It reduces injuries.
b. It enhances collaboration among the community partners.
c. It reduces stress and panic behaviours.
d. It reduces involvement.

Answer 7

ANS: A
Disaster preparedness plans contribute to safer communities, reduce loss of life, and can
reduce the number of injuries.

Question 8

Which scenario exemplifies that an influenza pandemic has occurred?
a. There is a lack of pandemic vaccine production.
b. A new strain of influenza appears.
c. Cases of H1N1 outnumber those of influenza A.
d. More than 75% of the population is affected.

Answer 8

ANS: C
An influenza pandemic occurs when a change in the influenza A virus takes place, causing the
development of a new strain to which people have little or no immunity. As a result, a
worldwide outbreak of influenza, called an influenza pandemic, can occur.