Disaster Overview Flashcards
Which program had undertaken the challenge of creating and family/disaster prep course?
National Disaster Life Support Education Consortium
What is the purpose of the NDLS family of courses?
To prepare the health community to recognize and manage the medical consequences of disasters
What was the result of creating the NDLS family of courses?
A coordinated all-hazards training program
What is a disaster?
When need exceeds resources available
Define MCI.
Multiple/mass/major casualty incident
Present when healthcare need exceed available healthcare resources
What is the goal of MCI management?
Do the greatest good for the greatest number of potential survivors
What does MCI require?
Communication, key terms, triage model, organizational plan, scene eval, simple descriptive method of victim classification
D.I.S.A.S.T.E.R.
Detection, Incident command, Scene Security and Safety, Asses hazards, Support, Triage and Treatment, Evacuation, Recovery
What does “all-hazards” mean?
Man-made or natural events with the destructive capability of causing multiple causalities
What does “all-hazard preparedness” mean?
Comprehensive preparedness required to manage the casualties resulting from all-hazards
What some features of earthquakes?
Location, strength, secondary disasters, prediction and early warning
What are some natural disasters?
Earthquakes, volcanoes, tornadoes, hurricanes, floods
Which natural disaster causes the greatest amount number of US fatalities?
Flash floods
Are infectious diseases, like influenza, considered natural disasters?
Yes
What are some man-made disasters?
Structure fires, structure collapse, mass gatherings, explosive and incendiary devices, transportation incidents, industrial hazmat, terrorism
What is the definition of terrorism?
Use force against persons or property;
to intimate, coerce, further political or social objective, crimial act
What are the features of a terrorist attack?
Aymmetric warfare
Small event
Widespread effect
What is a weapon of mass destruction of effect?
Weapons or devices that injure or kill large numbers causing widespread destruction or panic
What are the five major categories of chemical agents?
Nerve (GA,GB), blood (cyanide), blister (mustard), choking (chlorine), incapacitating (GZ)
What are biological weapons?
Disseminate disease-causing microorganisms or biologically-produced toxins (poisons)
What are CDC categories of biological weapons?
Highest risk, high risk, and emerging pathogens
What are some toxins used as bioterrorism agents?
Botulinum, Staph enterotoxin B, ricin
What are radiological weapons?
Devices to disperse radioactive substances, conventional explosive devices, intentional release and less energy and radiation release than a nuke
What are nuclear weapons?
Catastrophic explosions
Massive nuclear energy release through atom splitting
Traumatic injuries, burns, fallout
Which type of ionizing radiation is the strongest?
Gamma and Neutron
What is the purpose of warning systems?
Many natural disasters tracked before impact, possible mitigation before impact
What is the criteria for a threat assessment?
Credible? Corroborated? Specific/imminent threat? Graveness of threat?
