Disaster and Bioterrorism (6) Flashcards
Disaster
- An event that causes destruction of life or property within a community that affects local resources and the members’ of that community ability to respond appropriately to the incident.
1. Stages of Disaster
2. Prevention/mitigation
3. Preparedness and planning stage
4. Response
5. Recovery
Types of Disasters
- Natural/Environmental
- Manmade (Accidental or acts of terrorism)
- Chemical
- BiologicalRadiological/Nuclear
- Explosive Incidents
Examples of Natural Disasters
- Heat waves/Cold Waves
- hurricanes
- blizzards
- wildfires
- earthquakes
- droughts
- Volcanic eruptions
Examples of Man-Made Disasters
- Acts of Terrorism: Terrorism-premeditated violent acts (usually politically motivated) done to coerce or intimidate the civilian population or government into a certain action or political policy decision
- Explosions
- riots
- Wars & Weapons of Mass Destruction
1. Category a-highest priority agents–easily disseminated anthrax, Ebola, plague, smallpox
2. Category B-second highest priority agents-moderately easy to disseminate – brucellosis, food safety threats (salmonella), ricin
3. Category c- third highest priority-emerging agents that are easy to produce and easily available hantavirus and Nipah virus - Pollution
- Flooding
- Combination -NaTech (natural-technological)
Impacts of disaster
- Mass casualty = 100 or more individuals
- Multiple = more than 2 but less than 100 individuals
- Direct victim = immediately impacted by the disaster/event
- Indirect victim = Responders/Family member/Friend /coworker of the direct victim
Factors to consider when managing disasters
- Frequency
- Predictability
- Preventability/mitigation
- Levels of prevention
1. Primary
2. Secondary
3. Tertiary - Imminence
- Scope and number of casualties
- Intensity or level of destruction
Disaster Management
- Local Government
- State government
- Federal Government
- Nongovernmental entities
- Volunteer organizations
- Private sector
National Incident Management System
- Purpose = to enhance unity of effort by providing a common approach for managing incidents
- Systematic way for all governmental and nongovernmental agencies to work seamlessly to prevent, protect, mitigate, respond to, and recover from incidents (FEMA, 2022)
Missions of Homeland Security
- Prevent terrorism and enhance security
- Secure and manage the us borders
- Enforce and administer immigration laws
- Cybersecurity
- Ensure resilience to disaster
FEMA
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Works with the local and state officials to ensure that there is a coordinated response and recovery in a disaster.
FEMA Basic Disaster Kit Supplies
- 3 day supply non-perishable food
- 3 day supply of water (1 gallon per person per day)
- Battery operated radio & extra batteries
- Flash light & extra batteries
- First aid kit
- Sanitation kits/toilet paper
- Matches and water proof container
- Whistle
- Extra clothing/shoes/long pants/jacket or coat
- Kitchen accessories and cooking utensils (can opener)
- Photocopies of credit cards/identification
- Cash/coins
- Special need items (copies of your legal and insurance documents
Agencies and Other Entities Responding to Disasters
- Department of Homeland security
- Centers for disease control
- Public health service
- American Red Cross
Community Response to a Disaster
- Heroic Phase
- Honeymoon Phase
- Disillusionment Phase
- Reconstruction Phase
1-Heroic Phase
During the heroic phase, nearly everyone feels the need to rush to help people survive the disaster. Medical personnel may work hours without sleep, under very dangerous and life-threatening conditions, in order to take care of their patients. Medical personnel may help out in areas with which they are not familiar and have no experience. Disaster Medical Assistance Teams, consisting of professional and paraprofessional medical personnel, provide emergency relief during a disaster and may travel long distances to help out in one.
2-Honeymoon Phase
Individuals who have survived the disaster gather together with others who have simultaneously experienced the same event; this is known as the honeymoon phase. People begin to tell their stories and review over and over again what has occurred. Bonds are formed among victims and health care workers. Gratitude is expressed for being alive.
3-Disillusionment Phase
When time has elapsed and a delay in receiving help or failure to receive the promised aid has not occurred, feelings of despair arise. Medical personnel and other first responders may begin to experience depression due to exhaustion from many long days of long hours. Depression may set in as a result of knowledge about what has happened to the community, friends, and family. People realize the way things were before the disaster is not the way things are now and may never be again. They recognize that many things are different and much needs to be done to adjust to the current situation.
4-Reconstruction Phase
Once the community has restored some of the buildings, businesses, homes, and services and some sense of normality is returning, feelings of despair subside. Counseling support for victims and helpers may need to be initiated to help people recover more fully. During this phase, people begin to look to the future.
Types of Injuries
- Drownings
- Electrocutions
- lacerations
- Punctures from falling objects
- Blunt trauma
- Heart attacks
- Stress related disorders
- Power saw injuries, animal and snake bites
Disaster Triage
Green Tag: Able to walk to a designated safe area for further assessment.
Yellow Tag: Non-ambulatory patients who do not meet black, white, or red criteria.
Red Tag: Any of the following:Respirations more than 30 breaths/min. No palpable radial pulse. Not able to follow commands.
Black Tag: I am not breathing despite one attempt to open the airway.
Forensic Nursing
A forensic nurse is a Registered or Advanced Practice Nurse who has received specific education and training. Forensic nurses provide specialized care for patients who are experiencing acute and long-term health consequences associated with victimization or violence, and/or have unmet evidentiary needs relative to having been victimized or accused of victimization. In addition, forensic nurses provide consultation and testimony for civil and criminal proceedings relative to nursing practice, care given, and opinions rendered regarding findings. Forensic nursing care is not separate and distinct from other forms of medical care, but rather integrated into the overall care needs of individual patients.
* Registered or Advanced Practice Nurse
* Specialized Training
* Victims of Violence
* Consultation and testimony for civil and criminal proceedings
Subspecialties of Forensic Nursing
- Sexually Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE)
- Nurse Coroner and Death Investigator
- Legal Nurse Consultant and Nurse Attorney
- Forensic Nursing Educator and Consultant
- Forensic Psychiatric Nurse
- Forensic Nurse Examiner
- Correctional Nurse: Correctional nursing focuses on providing nursing care to incarcerated individuals within the correctional environment, without regard for the specific crimes, criminal behavior and/or victim status of the patient.
Goals of Correctional Nurse
PRIMARY GOAL
1. Safety and security of the inmate population
2. Compassionate and humane care
SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS
1. Correctional Officer First
Special Needs of Population
- Health assessment upon entering facility
- Management of communicable diseases
- Female population
- Mental illness
- Adolescents
