DISASTERS

Disaster as “any occurrence that causes

damage ecological disruption, loss of
human life, deterioration of health and
health services.

A phenomenon that has the potential to

cause disruption or damage to people
and their environment.
 DISASTER NURSING

• Disaster nursing can be defined as

''a adaptation of professional
nursing skills in recognizing and
meeting the nursing physical and
emotional needs resulting from the
disaster.''
DISASTER AGENT
Primary agents include falling buildings,
heat , rising ,water and smoke.
Secondary agents include bacteria and
viruses that produce contamination or
infection after the primary agent has
caused injury or destruction.
HOST
Human kind.
Age, sex, immunization status, pre-
existing health, degree of mobility,
emotional stability,
ENVIRONMENT

PHYSICAL FACTORS

CHEMICAL FACTOR

BIOLOGICAL FACTORS

SOCIAL FACTORS

PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS
CONCEPT OF DISASTER NURSING
D -Detection
I -Incident command
S -Safety and security
A -Assess
S -Support
T -Triage and treatment
E -Evaluation
R -Recovery
 Principles of Disaster Nursing
Rapid assessment of the situation and of nursing
care needs.

Triage and initiation of life-saving measures first.

The selected use of essential nursing

interventions and the elimination of nonessential
nursing activities.

Evaluation of the environment and the

mitigation or removal of any health hazards.
 Principles of Disaster Nursing
Prevention of further injury or illness.

Leadership in coordinating patient triage, care,

and transport during times of crisis.

The teaching, supervision, and utilization of

auxiliary medical personnel and volunteers.

Provision of understanding, compassion, and

emotional support to all victims and their
families.
CAUSE OF DISASTER
TYPES

• NATURAL DISASTERS

• MAN-MADE DISASTER
CLASSIFICATION OF DISASTER
Natural disasters
– Ex: flood, cyclones, earthquakes, Land slides, wind
storm, epidemics and draught, Tsunami
Man made disasters
– Fire , Explosion, Accidents, bomb blast, terrorism,
Biochemical war and violence
NATURAL DISASTERS
Type ofdisaster Common injuries

Cyclone Drowning, upper respiratoryinfections

Tsunami Lung: a severe infection caused by swallowing
muddy, bacteria- laden water
Thunderstorm Resistanceof body tissue to electrical current:
Least resistance: Nerves, blood,
mucus membrane, muscle
Intermediate resistance: dryskin
Most resistance: tendon, fat, bone
Tornado Flying debris
Earthquake High incidence of mortality and morbidity
Snowstorm Overexertion andexhaustion
Natural Disasters
❏ Some natural disasters like floods and volcanoes, advance warning
may be there
❏ Others like earthquakes, tsunami may or may not warning
MAN-MADE DISASTERS
Type ofdisaster Common injuries

Blast injuries Auditory, Eye, respiratory, and multi

systems
Blunt trauma Head and torso the most affected
Pressuretrauma Lungs, ear, andbowel

Dirty bomb Radiation sickness

Nuclear Thermal burns
detonation

Chemicalburns From minor to life-threatening injuries

 Natural ‘n’ man made
❏ Filling of wetlands
❏ Unauthorised
constructions
❏ Destructions of hills
❏ Deforestations
❏ Kerala flood
❏ Chennai Flood
❏ Recent Kerala land
slides
 POLICIES RELATED TO DISASTER
MANAGEMENT
1. “First come, first treated” principle will not
be followed during emergencies.
2. Triage protocol
3. ABCDE care is provided
Airway
Breathing
Circulation
Disability limitation
Exposure / environmental control
 POLICIES RELATED TO DISASTER
MANAGEMENT
4. Trauma team and trauma code

5. Management of cardiopulmonary arrest

6. Emergency medicine records

7. Chain of command in the team and system

8. Alternative chains and flexibility standards

 POLICIES RELATED TO DISASTER
MANAGEMENT
9. Procedures involving medico-legal issues

10. Disaster preparedness

11. Disaster drills

12. Infection control measures

13. Quality management of disaster services

 NATIONAL POLICY

The National Policy on Disaster Management (NPDM) has

been approved by the central govt. on October 22, 2009
and circulated to all concerned.

The policy covers all aspects of disaster management

including institutional and legal arrangements, financial
arrangements, disaster prevention, mitigation and
preparedness, techno-legal regime, response, relief and
rehabilitation, reconstruction and recovery, capacity
development, knowledge management, research and
development.
 NATIONAL POLICY
It focuses on the areas where action is needed and the
institutional mechanism through which such action can be
channelized.

It aims to bring in transparency and accountability in all

aspects of disaster management through involvement of
community, community based organizations.
 STATE POLICY
It aims to establish an optimum system for
dealing with disasters, avoiding disruption of
economic activity and ensuring continuity in
developmental activities without damaging the
environment.

To establish effective Disaster Crisis Management

through the organization and management of
resources and responsibilities for dealing with all
aspects of emergencies, particularly, response,
rehabilitation and reconstruction.
 STATE POLICY
To strengthen the capacities and resilience of
vulnerable community with special emphasis on
empowerment of women and establish
community level systems for pre, during and post
disaster interventions through awareness
generation and capacity building.

To build capacities and promote positive

changes in the administrative systems,
procedures and personnel that would facilitate
efficient and effective pre and post disaster
activities.
 STATE POLICY

To institutionalize Disaster Management in

government as envisaged in DM Act, 2005 and to
mainstream Disaster Management in to
developmental planning
 DISASTER MANAGEMENT
It is defined as the organization
and management of resources and
responsibilities for dealing with all
humanitarian aspects of emergencies, in
particular, preparedness, response and
recovery in order to lessen the impact
of disasters.
 Important elements in the Disaster
Management Plan
1. Reliable and early detection of an emergency and careful
planning.
2. The command, co-ordination, and response organisation
structure along with efficient trained personnel.

3. The availability of resources for handling emergencies.

4. Appropriate emergency response actions.
5. Effective notification and communication facilities.
6. Regular review and updating of the EMP
7. Proper training of the concerned personnel.
 PRINCIPLES OF DISASTER
MANAGEMENT

(1) Prevent the occurrence of the disaster

whenever possible.
(2)Minimize the number of casualties if the
disaster cannot be prevented.
(3)Prevent further casualties from occurring after
the initial impact of the disaster.
(4) Rescue the victims.
(5) Provide first aid to the injured.
(6) evacuate the injured to medical facilities.
(7) Provide definitive medical care.
(8) Promote reconstruction of lives.
PHASES OF A DISASTER
 PRE-IMPACT PHASE
• It is the initial phase of disaster, prior to the actual
occurrence. A warning is given at the sign of the first

possible danger to a community with the aid of weather

networks and satellite many meteorological disasters can be

predicted.

• The role of the nurse during this warning phase is to assist

in preparing shelters and emergency aid stations and

establishing contact with other emergency service group.

 IMPACT PHASE
• The impact phase occurs when the disaster actually
happens. It is a time of enduring hardship or injury end of
trying to survive.
• This is the time when the emergency operation center is
established and put in operation. It serves as the center for
communication and other government agencies of health
tears care healthcare providers to staff shelters. Every
shelter has a nurse as a member of disaster action team. The
nurse is responsible for psychological support to victims in
the shelter.
 POST – IMPACT PHASE
• Recovery begins during the emergency phase ends with the
return of normal community order and functioning. The
victims of disaster in go through four stages of emotional
response.
• 1. Denial – during the stage the victims may deny the
magnitude of the problem or have not fully registered.
• 2. Strong Emotional Response – in the second stage,
the person is aware of the problem but regards it as
overwhelming and unbearable.
 Contd..

3.Acceptance – During the third stage, the

victim begins to accept the problems caused
by the disaster and makes a concentrated effect
to solve them.

4.Recovery – The fourth stage represent a

recovery from the crisis reaction. Victims feel
that they are back to normal.