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EH581: Public Health Consequences of Disasters > Quiz 1 > Flashcards

Quiz 1 Flashcards

1
Q

Definition of “disaster”

A

“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”

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2
Q

What causes a disaster?

A

disasters are caused by hazards and vulnerability

Hazards that when they come into contact with vulnerable populations cause disasters

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3
Q

Definition of “hazard”

A

“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”

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4
Q

Definition of “vulnerability”

A

“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

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5
Q

3 classifications of disaster based on hazard

A
  • Natural (natural forces/living organisms)
  • Technological (human generated)
  • Hybrid: combo of natural and technological
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6
Q

Hazard based classification of natural disasters

A
  • Hydro-meterological (floods, storms etc.)
  • Geological (earthquakes, volcanoes etc.)
  • Biological (epidemics, pandemics)
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7
Q

Hazard based classification of technological disasters

A
  • Toxiological (poison people)
  • Thermal (burn people)
  • Mechanical (strike or crush people)
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8
Q

Why are disasters increasing worldwide?

A

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

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9
Q

Definition of a “natural disaster”

A

A disaster that is caused by naturally occurring hazards

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10
Q

Is the incidence of natural disasters increasing?

A

Until 2000 the incidence of natural disasters was increasing, since then decreasing

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11
Q

Is the cost of natural disasters increasing?

A

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

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12
Q

Are more people being killed by natural disasters?

A

No there is a decline in the number of people being killed

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13
Q

Classifications of natural disasters

A
  1. Time-based classification: slow v rapid onset
  2. Notice-based classification: advance v no notice
  3. Hazard-based classification: biological, hydro-metrological, geological
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14
Q

Public health consequences of natural disasters

A 
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
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15
Q

Definition of “biological disasters”

A

A class of natural disaster spread by disease

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16
Q

Pattern of Disease Occurrence: overview

A

Endemic –> outbreak –> epidemic –> pandemic

17
Q

Pattern of Disease Occurrence: Endemic

A

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

18
Q

Patterns of Disease Occurrence: Outbreak

A

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.

19
Q

Patterns of Disease Occurrence: Epidemic

A

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.

20
Q

Patterns of disease occurrence: Pandemic

A

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.

21
Q

Public Health response capabilities for biological disasters

A
  1. incident management: emergency operations coordination
  2. information management: emergency public information and warning sharing
  3. Surge management: fatality management, medical surge (ability to up level of care from the normal level)
  4. Biosurveillance
  5. counter-measures and mitigation
22
Q

Public health consequences of biological disasters

A

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

23
Q

Public Health Consequences of Disasters (general)

A

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

24
Q

6 common disaster myths

A
  1. disasters cause epidemics and spread of disease
  2. mass hunger is inevitable after disasters
  3. putting people in temporary shelters is the best alternative when homes are destroyed
  4. foreign volunteers with any medical expertise are urgently needed
  5. international community should send anything it can immediately
  6. Things are back to normal in a few weeks.
25
Q

List the 3 terms used to describe tropical cyclones

A
  • Cyclones (Indian Ocean and SW Pacific)
  • Hurricanes (N Atlanta, Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, E Pacific)
  • Typhoons (NW Pacific)
26
Q

Identify conditions necessary for formation of a tropical cyclone

A

Low pressure system over warm waters of at least 79.7F
Location between 30N and 30S (near equator)
Rotating winds that maintain a speed of 73mph or more at the ocean surgace
minimum ocean depth 150ft

27
Q

How are tropical cyclones categorised?>

A 
Category 1: 74-95mph
Category 2: 96-110
Category 3: 111-130
Category 4: 131-155
Category 5: >155
28
Q

Identify major public health consequences of tropical cyclones

A 
Mortality and morbidity - main cause of death is drowning
Economic impact
Population displacement and difficulty
damage to health care and public health
loss of electricity and clean water
29
Q

secondary disasters caused by tropical cyclones

A

Flash floods
landslides and mudslides
tornadoes
storm surges

30
Q

Human factors influencing mortality and morbidity in a tropical cyclone

A 
building design and construction
flying debris, structural collapse
coastal land use patterns
detection and early warning
evacuation
31
Q

prevention and control measures for tropical cyclones

A 
building design and construction
land-use planning
preparedness - disaster culture
forecasting
early warning and public education
evacuation and shelter
needs assessment and surveillance
response and recovery efforts
32
Q

The Coriolis Effect

A

Spinning of the earth causes winds and waves to move in different directions above and below the equator

N Hemisphere: clockwise
S Hemisphere: counter-clockwise

33
Q

Progression of tropical storms

A

Tropical depression (winds <38mph)

Tropical storm (winds 39-73)

Tropical cyclone (winds 74+)

EH581: Public Health Consequences of Disasters (5 decks)

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