Disaster Safety and Assess Hazards Flashcards
What are the ABCs of scene safety action plan?
Awareness of hazardous conditions
Barrier needed for protection
Communication information
What are secondary hazards?
An addition to the primary event that may not be completely obvious
A risk to victims and rescuers
What are the first things to do in a hazard situation?
Protect yourself
Get out, call 911, follow scene priorities, all-hazard consideration, restrict access
What are the scene priories of protection?
Protect self, then team, then public, then patients, then environment
What are the scene environment “U”s?
Unsafe, uncertain, unpredictable
What are the scene caveats?
Don’t show up uninvited
Don’t disturb possible evidence
Don’t disrupt emergency services
What should be done with a suspicious package?
ID - inappropriate/unusual labeling
Do not open, shake, examine or show it
Wash hands and call 911
What are some considerations for a chemical incident?
Safe zone uphill, upwind, secondary contamination, must wear PPE, secondary threats and environment
What are some considerations for a biological incident?
Delayed presentation, health care facilities become scene
Community issues, isolate ill, observe exposed, PPE
What are some considerations for a radiological incident?
Hazards - contaminated victim, continued release, fallout, windborn spread, PPE
What are some considerations for a nuclear incident?
Get out! Probably not terrorist
What are some considerations for a natural disaster?
Scene variability, danger from secondary threats, evac and rescue
What are some considerations for explosives?
Location of contamination/dispersal
Do not enter area w/ explosives, on-going threat, immediate evac
Cell phones, pagers and electronics - danger
What are some secondary dangers?
Structural instability
Falling debris
What are some critical considerations for personal protection equipment?
Minimize contact, protect orifices, proper training and fitting, no one type protects against everything, may create work hazards
What should be considered when choosing a PPE?
Immediate Danger to Life or Health? The agent Release method Confined space? Release site proximity (Hot/Warm zone) Job duties during the event
Describe a level A PPE.
Fully encapsulated suit, provides the maximum protection, uses a self-contained breathing apparatus on the inside, fully encapsulating and includes chemical resistance boots and gloves
Need assistance to get in or out of
Describe a level B PPE.
Provides high respiratory protection but has less skin protection, uses a self-contained breathing apparatus, hooded chemical resistant suit, which does include the boots and gloves
Describe a level C PPE.
Powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR), hooded chemical resistant clothing, chemical resistant boots and gloves
Suitable for decontamination
Describe a BIO-PPE.
Double gloves, impermeable gowns, goggles, cap, leg and shoe covers, N95 mask or better respirator, hand hygiene
Suitable for most hospital situations
Describe a level D PPE.
Minimum protection, no respiratory protection, standard work uniform, standard OSHA personal protective barriers
What is the universal respiratory etiquette strategy for healthcare faculties?
Give surgical masks/cough barriers, provide hygiene supplies in waiting areas, encourage coughers to be 3 ft away, construct barriers between staff and sick
What should be used to figure out which hospital PPE to use?
Hot zone - casulaty collection Level A
Warm zone - triage and decontaminate Level B or C
Cold zone - treatment/transport Level D or BioPPE
What are some types of respiratory protection?
Self contained breathing apparatus
Supplied air respirator
Powered air purifying respirator
Air purifying respirator
Which PPEs are a fit test required for?
N95 or greater
What is decontamination?
Rapid removal or deactivation of contaminants as soon as possible even with incomplete info
Reduce amount and spread of contaminants
Who should you decontaminate?
Everyone who may have been contaminated by a chemical, radiological, nuclear (or biological) agent
How do you decontaminate?
Dry = undress
Wet = undress +solution
Soap and water vs dilute bleach
Describe gross decontamination.
Close to location, non-ambulatory, casualty collection, privacy, ambient and water temp (hypothermia)
Describe technical decontamination
Close to the gross location, privacy, ambient temp and water (hypothermia), fresh clothing needed
What should be done during post-decontamination?
Observe the location and monitor delayed symptoms, psychological support, specific treatment
