Quiz 1 Flashcards
Definition of “disaster”
“a serious disruption of the functioning of a community or a society causing widespread human, material, economic or environmental losses that exceed the ability of affected community or society to cope using its own resources”
What causes a disaster?
disasters are caused by hazards and vulnerability
Hazards that when they come into contact with vulnerable populations cause disasters
Definition of “hazard”
“A dangerous phenomenon, substance, human activity or condition that MAY cause loss of life, injury or other health impacts, property damage, loss of livelihoods ins services, social and economic disruption or environmental damage”
Definition of “vulnerability”
“the characteristics and circumstances of a community or asset that make it susceptible to the damaging effects of a hazard”
e.g. gender, age, disability, poverty, location in a dangerous area
3 classifications of disaster based on hazard
- Natural (natural forces/living organisms)
- Technological (human generated)
- Hybrid: combo of natural and technological
Hazard based classification of natural disasters
- Hydro-meterological (floods, storms etc.)
- Geological (earthquakes, volcanoes etc.)
- Biological (epidemics, pandemics)
Hazard based classification of technological disasters
- Toxiological (poison people)
- Thermal (burn people)
- Mechanical (strike or crush people)
Why are disasters increasing worldwide?
Increasing vulnerability of populations at risk
Populations moving into areas that are prone to disasters
More toxic chemicals and increased industrial activity worldwide
Rapid and unplanned urbanisation in developing countries
Definition of a “natural disaster”
A disaster that is caused by naturally occurring hazards
Is the incidence of natural disasters increasing?
Until 2000 the incidence of natural disasters was increasing, since then decreasing
Is the cost of natural disasters increasing?
Increasing cost of disaster damage –> increased cost to build things, increased incidence of disasters in high resource and industrialised nations, due to more frequent losses insurance in harder to find
Are more people being killed by natural disasters?
No there is a decline in the number of people being killed
Classifications of natural disasters
- Time-based classification: slow v rapid onset
- Notice-based classification: advance v no notice
- Hazard-based classification: biological, hydro-metrological, geological
Public health consequences of natural disasters
Death and injuries Loss of clean water, shelter, personal household goods, sanitation, routine hygiene, food supply, electricity Major population movements Public concern for safety Increase in pests and vectors Damage to healthcare system Worsening of chronic illness Toxic/hazardous exposure
Definition of “biological disasters”
A class of natural disaster spread by disease
Pattern of Disease Occurrence: overview
Endemic –> outbreak –> epidemic –> pandemic
Pattern of Disease Occurrence: Endemic
Constant presence of an agent or health condition in a given geographic area or population.
Not a biological disaster = the pre-existing steady-sate of disease in a population
Patterns of Disease Occurrence: Outbreak
Occurrence of more cases of disease, injury or health condition than expected in a given area or among a specific group of persons during a specific period.
Can be a biological disaster if size exceeds capacity to deal with it without outside help.
More localised than epidemic.
Patterns of Disease Occurrence: Epidemic
Occurrence of many more cases of disease than expected in a given area or specific group in a particular period
Usually the cases are presumed to have a common cause
A biological disaster as large cases in a short period may exceed capacity of society to deal with it without outside help.
Patterns of disease occurrence: Pandemic
An epidemic occurring over a widespread area (multiple countries and continents) and affected a substantial proportion of the populations
A biological disaster as it disrupts societal function and exceeds capacity of society to deal with the disaster without help.
Public Health response capabilities for biological disasters
- incident management: emergency operations coordination
- information management: emergency public information and warning sharing
- Surge management: fatality management, medical surge (ability to up level of care from the normal level)
- Biosurveillance
- counter-measures and mitigation
Public health consequences of biological disasters
Deaths (vary from moderate to very many)
May be very large number of severe illnesses (epidemic and pandemic)
Loss or damage to health care system (supplies, hospitals overwhelmed, staff shortages due to illness)
Worsening chronic illness
Public concern for safety
Pests
Public Health Consequences of Disasters (general)
Mortality
Morbidity (illness and injury): worsening of chronic illness, psychological illness, pests and vectors increased, severe injuries, toxic exposures, food scarcity, worsening of endemic diseases
Environmental: public concern for safety, loss of hygiene, clean water, electricity, shelter, sanitation, personal items, disuption to health infrastructure
Will depend on type and size of event
6 common disaster myths
- disasters cause epidemics and spread of disease
- mass hunger is inevitable after disasters
- putting people in temporary shelters is the best alternative when homes are destroyed
- foreign volunteers with any medical expertise are urgently needed
- international community should send anything it can immediately
- Things are back to normal in a few weeks.
