emergency preparedness Flashcards
disaster
The results of vast breakdown in the relationship between humans and their environment, a serious or sudden event on such a scale that the community needs far out number resources
hurricanes
- deaths are from drowning and from flying debris due to high winds
- nurses can be instrumental in providing emergency care
Tornadoa
- primary hazard risk for injuries from flying debris
- desolation of community resources
Earthquakes
People caught underneath rubble
-injured by falling debris
Tsunami
- injury and death due to drowning and trauma from massive forceful wave
- cities demolished
Flooding
- may originate very quickly or develop I’ve a short period following am extended period of rain or quick snow melt
- primary hazards from flooding is drowning -long term hazard is the development of disease from contaminated water and lack of hygeine
Man made disasters
- unpredictable
- very rare, impossible to conceive before the event
Terrorism
- department of defense estimates that as many as 26 nations possess chemical and biological agents
- 10 countries are believed to possess biological agents as weapons
- the attack can take many forms
- aerosolized agents
Anthrax
- agent of bioterrorism
- flu-like symptoms
- fatal if not treated quickly
- found in the environment
Botulism
- agent of bioterrorism
- from the toxins produced by clostridium botulinum
- inhalation or ingestion from God or water
- spore-forming
Plague
- agent of bioterrorism
- transmitted person to person
Mitigation
- activities that reduce or eliminate a hazard
- prevention, risk reduction
- examples:
- immunization programs
- public education
Preparedness
- knows evacuation shelters
- emergency communication plan
- preventative measures to prevent spread of disease
- public education
Response phase
Activities a hospital, healthcare system, or public health agency immediately before, during and after a disaster or emergency occurs
Recovery
- activities undertaken by a community and its components after an emergency or disaster to restore minimum long-term restoration
- debris removal
- care and shelter
- damage assessments
- funding assistance
- psychological support
triage
- assigns priorities when resources are limited
- do the best for the greatest number of pts
immediate
-life threatening injuries that will not consume too many resources
delayed
-need of medical attention but do not require immediate attention such as fractures
minor
non life threatening: cuts, abbrasions
nurses expected role: prevention of disease
- assist in disease surveillance
- distribute public stocks of drugs and vaccines
- prevent local disease transmission using containment strategies
- prepare educational campaigns to reduce the spread of disease
disaster response
shelter management:
- organized team
- sleeping area and necessities
- water and food handing
- sanitation (toilets, showers)
- special care for children/elderly
- health services (physical & mental)
- surveillance and monioring
disasters and health
- communicable diseases outbreak to:
- flooded sewer systems
- destruction of health care infrastructure
- interruption of normal heath services geared towards communicable diseases
psychological support
- PTSD
- greif
- fear
- anger
- loss of control
- stress related illness
agencies
- national nurse response team (NNRT)
- international nursing coalition for mass casualty education (INCMCE)
- american red cross (ARC)
- medical reserve corps (MRC)
- disaster medical assistance team (DMAT)
small pox
- presents as rash
- transmitted by contact with lesions or inhaling
tularemia
- skin infections
- pulmonary infections
- transmitted by blood and body fluids
nuclear and radiological attacks
injury comes from the explosion and the radioactive contamination
FEMA
- Federal Emergency Management Agency
- Primary purpose is to coordinate the response to a disaster that has occurred in the United States and that
overwhelms the resources of local and
state authorities.
phases of disaster
Mitigation: Lessen the impact of a disaster before it strikes Preparedness: Activities undertaken to handle a disaster when it strikes Response: Search and rescue, clearing debris, and feeding and sheltering victims (and responders if necessary) Recovery: Getting a community back to its predisaster status
