ENVIRONMENTAL DISASTERS AND EMERGENCIES
7 NCM 120: Disaster Nursing
Ma. Concepcion B. Sekito, MPH, RN• May 20, 2022
OBJECTIVES
 Describe the importance of a safe, stable
environment as a foundation for good health.
 Discuss examples of environmental hazards and
their impact on communities.
 Explain the purpose of environmental tracking
network and its value to disaster planners.
 Identify the health outcomes associated with the
most commonly occurring environmental
emergencies/disasters.
 Recognize the need for timely response and
immediate removal of the environmental hazard.
 Describe the role of the Occupational Safety and
Health Administration (OSHA) and the Risk
Management Program Rule with regard to
chemical emergencies.
 Identify strategies for the mitigation of
environmental emergencies/disasters
Environmental challenges loom as the world population
surpasses 7 billion along that line global climate change
combined with a rapidly growing world population have
advanced the probability of the occurrence of
environmental disasters. So take note of the
combination of climate change that takes place
throughout the world as well as the rapidly growing
world population. All of these are instrumental in terms
of the occurrence environmental disasters.
ENVIRONMENTAL EMERGENCIES
 An environmental emergency is a sudden
threat to the public health or to the well-being of
the environment arising from the release or
potential release of oil, radioactive materials, or
hazardous chemicals into the air, land, or water.
 In 2017, the world population surpassed 7.4
billion people (US Census Bureau, International
Program, 2017), creating a taxing burden on our
global environment whose impact will
undoubtedly reveal itself in the decade ahead.
Increases in world population translate into
increased consumption of natural resources, a
growing demand for the production of energy,
the manufacture of large amounts of waste, and
an ongoing strain on the sustainability of our
environment. Coupled with an awareness of the
ongoing and anticipated future impact of global
climate change, it seems reasonable to state
that our environment is changing dramatically –
and not for the better. The combination of these
factors will result in more frequent occurrences
of disasters and environmental emergencies that
threaten human health.
 These emergencies may occur from:
 transportation accidents, events at
chemical facilities or
 other facilities using or manufacturing
chemicals, or
 as result of natural or man-made
disaster events (Environmental
Protection Agency [EPA], 2017a)
 Although there are many other serious
environmental problems with which health
officials are concerned, environmental
emergencies and the activities that
surround them are focused generally on
sudden, immediate threats.
ENVIRONMENTAL DISASTER
 An environmental disaster is defined as an
environmental emergency or ecologic disruption
of a severity and magnitude resulting in deaths,
injuries, illness, and/or property damage that
cannot be effectively managed by the
application of routine procedures or resources
and that result in a need for additional
assistance. Making use of routine procedures
and resources could not really help in terms of
the situation. In terms of magnitude, if we go
back to the factors affecting priority setting for
community health problems, what is this
magnitude of the problem? So at the community
level for the determination of the priority
problems community problems, Maglaya utilized
5 criteria for the determination of priority
problems. One is nature of the problem, wherein
it is classified into health status problem,
problem related to the health resources then
health related. The next criterion is magnitude
of the problem, and it mentioned that above
75%, so that’s from 75-100 a score of 4 is
given. Then if less than 75 that is from 51-74
the score of 3 is given. The 2 is given when the
score is from 26-49 then score of 1 is given if its
less than 25. The 3rd is modifiability of the
problem preventive potential. Then the last is
social concern.
In terms of the occurrence of the environmental
emergency if we make use of the concept here
the setting of priority according to Maglaya, if
more than 75% are affected, if there are death
that occurs, injuries, illness, as well as damage
to property these concepts are related to that of
environmental emergency.
 An environmental disaster is an
environmental emergency whose scope and
duration exceeds the local resources available to
respond. Take note of the occurrence of the
situation, how long do the emergency situation
takes place, what’s the scope and coverage,
what regions and localities are affected and are
the resources sufficient to the needs of those
affected. If the need is beyond what is available,
it is covered here in the concept of
environmental disaster.
 The health impact of an environmental disaster
on a community may be immediate, ongoing,
or delayed.
 Collaboration with many types of government
officials and community responders is critical to
mitigating the damage that may occur from an
environmental hazard. Examples of agencies
that can provide assistance in terms of the
occurrence of the environmental hazard include:
DSWD, DOH, DENR (they formulate guidelines
and rules), PHIVOLCS, BFP (responsible for
public education regarding firehazards), PNP,
DILG (policies and programs for the LGU to
promote safety), NDDRMC.
 Successful planning for potential environmental
disasters/emergencies demands that nurses be
knowledgeable of the environmental hazards
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 ENVIRONMENTAL DISASTERS AND EMERGENCIES
7 NCM 120: Disaster Nursing
Ma. Concepcion B. Sekito, MPH, RN• May 20, 2022
endemic to the area, including the movement of
hazardous substances through the area. Another
example here is Legazpi City, what hazards and
environmental emergencies can take place in
the area associated with the presence of Mayon
Volcano and Taal Volcano.
 Working in conjunction with their public health
colleagues and as members of an
interdisciplinary disaster response team, nurses
must be able to detect environmental changes
that will create the potential for both immediate
and long-term negative health outcomes. These
nurses are not supposed to know only, to
determine, to identify the hazard that are
existing within a particular locality, additional
competencies expected from these nurses is for
them to detect environmental changes. And with
the detection of these changes, these nurses are
supposed to determine also the immediate as
well as the long-term negative health outcomes.
 The consequences of the damage to the
environment will vary based on the:
 type of hazard,
 the mechanism of its release into the
environment,
 the geographic location of the event,
 the determinants of human exposure
(such as the weather conditions at the
time of the event), and
 the length of time until the response.
 Whether the event is an acute one-time
occurrence or a chronic, ongoing mechanism
of disruption will also be a major determinant
of the health consequences for the affected
population.
 As with natural disasters, health promotion
and disease prevention activities must
focus on the following:
1) The immediate removal of the hazard
from the environment (or if this is not
possible, the movement of the
population away from the hazard).
2) Decontamination of exposed individuals.
3) The restoration of services to meet the
immediate physiological needs of the
affected people.
4) The prevention of further illness or
injury as a result of exposure to the
hazard
 Disasters of a chronic or long-term nature (such
as industrial contamination of soil and water
supply) are more insidious and may be more
difficult to address.
 The health outcomes of these types of
environmental disasters may take years to
manifest (e.g., certain cancers, endocrine
disruption), and the scientific evidence that they
will occur is mounting.
ENVIRONMENTAL PUBLIC HEALTH
TRACKING: PROTECTING COMMUNITIES
THROUGH INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL
PUBLIC HEALTH SURVEILLANCE
This is being done to protect communities through
surveillance of the environment.
Environmental public health tracking is the ongoing
collection, integration, analysis, and interpretation of
data about the following factors:
 Environmental hazards.
 Exposure to environmental hazards.
 Health effects potentially related to exposure to
environmental hazards.
Health hazards here are determined, how are people
exposed to the hazards then the health effects
associated with the exposure to the hazards.
 The goal of environmental public health tracking
is to protect communities by providing
information to federal, state, and local
agencies.
 These agencies, in turn, will use this information
to plan, apply, and evaluate public health
actions to prevent and control environmentally
related diseases.
 Public health tracking monitors known
environmental hazards along with the
mechanism of action that may create the
potential for disaster.
 Some environmental hazards create the
potential for a public health emergency because
of regular exposure—they are already
present in the environment the individual
is living and working in (e.g., lead, radon,
asbestos).
 Other environmental hazards create the
potential for a disaster or emergency by being
transferred from one location to another.
 For example, it is the movement or
transportation of hazardous chemicals and
petroleum products that creates the potential for
exposure (e.g., oil spills).
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (EPA)
 The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
is the lead governmental agency responsible for
monitoring the environment in the United
States.
 The EPA’s mission is to “protect human
health and to safeguard the natural
environment—air, water, and land—upon
which life depends”
 Protecting human health is an integral part
of the EPA’s mission.
 In the Philippines, which agency assume
responsibility for protecting human health as
well as safeguard the nature of environment?
DOH and DENR
 According to the mandate of DOH EO no. 292
section 2, the department shall be primarily
responsible for the formulation, planning,
implementation, and coordination of policies and
programs in the field of health. So the primary
function of the DOH is the promotion,
protection, preservation or restoration of the
health of the people through the provision and
delivery of health services and through the
regulation and encouragement of the providers
of health goods and services.
 In terms of those functions which are relevant in
terms of the occurrence of environmental
emergencies? They disseminate information,
educate the population regarding the
implications of such environmental matters such
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 ENVIRONMENTAL DISASTERS AND EMERGENCIES
7 NCM 120: Disaster Nursing
Ma. Concepcion B. Sekito, MPH, RN• May 20, 2022
as disasters. Propagate health information and
educate the population on important health,
medical and environmental matters which have
health implications.
 What the DOH as well as the DENR was
explored in terms of the mission of EPA which
covers protecting human health as well as
safeguarding the human environment.
 The EPA conducts numerous research programs
throughout the world that study the effects of
pollution on the human body.
 Research efforts include studies on how
pollution affects children and people with
asthma and other illnesses and how water
contaminants may affect swimmers and
beachgoers.
 Monitoring environmental quality also plays an
important role in protecting human health.
 The EPA works with state and local agencies, as
well as volunteer and other citizens’ groups, to
monitor air and water quality and to reduce
human exposure to contaminants in the air,
land, and water.
 The EPA provides leadership in the nation’s
environmental science, education, and
assessment efforts and works closely with other
federal agencies, state and local governments,
and Native American communities to develop
and enforce regulations under existing
environmental laws.
 The EPA is responsible for researching and
setting national standards for a variety of
environmental programs and delegates to states
and tribes responsibility for issuing permits and
monitoring and enforcing compliance.
 Where national standards are not met, the EPA
can issue sanctions and take other steps to
assist the states and tribes in reaching the
desired levels of environmental quality.
 The EPA also works with industries and all levels
of government in a wide variety of voluntary
pollution prevention programs and energy
conservation efforts.
CDC NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL PUBLIC
HEALTH TRACKING NETWORK
 Environmental public health tracking is a
type of surveillance that is of great value to
disaster planners as well as responders.
Surveillance is a method to monitor trends by
collecting, interpreting, and reporting data. The
CDC’s National Environmental Public
Health Tracking Network brings together
health and environmental data into one place,
making it easier to compare hazards and
environmental exposures with health outcomes
at a local and national level.
 The Tracking Network has data and information
on environments and hazards, health effects,
and population health.
 The Tracking Network can be accessed at
www.ephtracking.cdc.gov/showHome in order
to:
 Use the query tool to view interactive
maps, tables and charts
 View info by location for country-level
data snapshots
 Visit state and local tracking websites.
AIR POLLUTANTS
 Toxic air pollutants, also known as hazardous
air pollutants, are those pollutants that cause or
may cause cancer or other serious health
effects, such as reproductive effects or birth
defects, or adverse environmental and ecological
effects.
 Examples of toxic air pollutants include
benzene, which is found in gasoline;
perchlorethlyene, which is emitted from some
dry cleaning facilities; and methylene chloride,
which is used as a solvent and paint stripper by
a number of industries.
 Examples of other listed air toxics include
dioxin, asbestos, toluene, and metals such as
cadmium, mercury, chromium, and lead
compounds.
 Most air toxics originate from human-
made sources:
 including mobile sources (e.g., cars,
trucks, buses) and
 stationary sources (e.g., factories,
refineries, power plants),
 as well as indoor sources (e.g., building
materials and activities such as cleaning,
carbon monoxide and mold)
 Some air toxics are also released from natural
sources such as volcanic eruptions and forest
fires.
 The World Trade Center disaster resulted in the
release of multiple air pollutants causing
significant disease (Reibman et al., 2016)
 People exposed to toxic air pollutants at
sufficient concentrations and durations may
have an increased chance of getting cancer,
pulmonary disease or other serious health
effects. Cancer and pulmonary diseases, all of
these are included in the top 10 leading causes
of morbidity and mortality.
 These health effects can include damage to
the immune system, as well as neurological,
reproductive (e.g., reduced fertility),
developmental, respiratory, and other health
problems.
 Acute and chronic exposure to some air
pollutants can lead to immediate and prolonged
death.
 In addition to exposure from breathing air
toxics, risks also are associated with the
deposition of toxic pollutants onto soils or
surface waters where they are taken up by
plants, ingested by animals, and eventually
magnified up through the food chain.
 Like humans, animals may experience health
problems if exposed to sufficient quantities of air
toxics over time (EPA, 2003a).
 For example, increases in ambient air ozone and
air pollution can be linked to increased
occurrences of asthma exacerbations because
the exposure has been found to induce an
increase in airway inflammation (Peden, 2002).
 Urbanization and ever-growing world population
have introduced several challenges in air
pollution. Emissions from electric utilities,
vehicular exhaust, gasoline vapors, and
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 ENVIRONMENTAL DISASTERS AND EMERGENCIES
7 NCM 120: Disaster Nursing
Ma. Concepcion B. Sekito, MPH, RN• May 20, 2022
chemical solvents are some of the largest
contributors to production of low-level ozone
(EPA, 2017).
 Ozone is formed when these toxic substances
react in sunlight close to the Earth’s surface,
and, unlike the ozone layer that protects from
harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun,
exposure can lead to severe permanent
respiratory disease (EPA, 2017).
 Particle pollution, the suspension of particles
of solids or liquids in the air from industrial or
chemical products, has become exceptionally
problematic (CDC, 2017b); in some cities, it can
become severe enough to see, smell, and taste.
 In the Philippines, we have Republic Act No.
8749, otherwise known as the Philippine
Clean Air Act. It is a comprehensive air quality
management policy and program which aims to
achieve and maintain healthy air for all Filipinos.
Millions of people died each year because of
smoky homes due to cooking or heating with
inefficient fuel and technology combinations.
Data showed that pneumonia death are caused
by household use of solid fuels, and
kerosene paired with polluting cook stove.
Moreover, millions of deaths take place due to
heart disease, stroke, pulmonary diseases,
pneumonia as well as lung cancer (WHO, 2019)
 In the Philippines, you have vehicle exhaust,
industrial emission and power production, smoke
from cooking and heating with uncleaned
technologies and fuel, waste burning and
wildfire in which all of these contribute to poor
quality in the Philippines.
 Moreover, according to Philippine Health
Statistic, the leading cause of morbidity
includes:
 acute respiratory infection,
 lower respiratory tract infection,
 pneumonia,
 bronchitis,
 heart diseases
All of these are related to pollution.
 Moreover, 4.2 million deaths occur each year as
a consequence of air pollution. So those that I
mentioned are chronic conditions.
 With the Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999, all
potential sources of air pollution either mobile,
point and area sources are covered by this act
and must comply with the provision of the law.
All emissions must be within the air quality
standards. Mobile sources include vehicles.
Point sources refer to stationary sources such
as industry, factories, as well as smoke stacks of
power plant and other establishments. Area
sources refer to the sources of emission other
than the mobile and the stationary. It includes
burning of garbage, and dust from construction,
all of these are included under other sources.
 OBJECTIVES OF THE CLEAN AIR ACT:
1) To achieve and maintain a healthy air
for Filipinos
2) Lay down policies to control the spread
of air pollution.
3) Set standards for vehicle owners as well
as manufacturing plants to follow and
impose the appropriate punishments for
violations of the law.
4) Outline the different programs to be
implemented by the government in
order to manage and maintain air
quality.
 Ok, if you will be asked, how will you be able to
keep the air clean? You will notice in the rural
areas in communities, for cooking, they utilize
plastics before cooking, so they use that for
lighting the firewood. So, is it a safe practice? So
the community people are supposed to be
instructed to avoid burning plastics. If there are
bottles that are being utilized, they’re not
supposed to be burned.
 Another point for keeping the air clean, is to
report, smoke belching vehicles. Conducting
smoke test of vehicles, as a requirement for the
issuance of licenses. Another one is, instead of
burning garbage, recycling, segregating has to
be practiced.
COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT FOR PUBLIC
HEALTH EMERGENCY RESPONSE (CASPER)
 We have here an example of community
assessment for Public Heath Response. The
acronym being utilized is CASPER.
 In terms of the community, you will see here
different disasters, and it was mentioned earlier
that occurrence of DISASTER causes serious
disruptions of the functioning of the society,
causing widespread human material and
environmental losses, that exceeds the local
capacity to respond and call for external
assistance.
 So, in terms of community assessment for public
health emergency response, we have the
household-base information about the
community.
 So, in terms of the informations here, are
applicable to both disaster as well as non-
disaster setting. Needs of the people are being
identified, then informations are being gathered
from the people. Something is being utilized,
then results of the sampling area is being given
to the agencies that are being concerned.
 IMPORTANT GOALS OF CASPER
A. OBTAIN- Rapidly obtain information
about the needs of a community.
B. PRODUCE- Produce population-based
estimates for decision-makers.
C. ASSESS- Assess new or changing needs.
 As mentioned, pre-disaster, rather there is a
suspect, then after that informations are
determined.
 WHAT CASPER IS NOT?
A. NOT intended to deliver food, medicine,
medical services, or other resources to
the affected area.
B. NOT intended to provide direct services
to residents such as cleanup or home
repair.
C. NOT able to determine why people are
not returning to the community, nor to
establish current population estimates.
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 ENVIRONMENTAL DISASTERS AND EMERGENCIES
7 NCM 120: Disaster Nursing
Ma. Concepcion B. Sekito, MPH, RN• May 20, 2022

 So, social welfare agencies, earlier DSWD was  If 23 households,

mentioned, DOH, which provides services during 23/7=3 … select every
the time of disasters. All of these are not 3rd household
covered of CASPER.  If 10 or less
 CASPER PHASES households, go to every
A. PREPARE one!
→ Objectives  Apartment complexes:
→ Assessment area each unit is a separate
→ Forms (survey, etc.) household
→ 1st stage sampling (30 clusters) → Once you pick a number, stick
B. CONDUCT to that number!
→ Just-in-time training E. The goal is to be sure interviews are
→ Interview teams spread out across the cluster
→ 2nd stage sampling (7
households)
C. ANALYZE  EXAMPLE: SELECTING HOUSEHOLDS TO
→ Weighted data INTERVIEW
→ Tracking form
D. REPORT
→ Interpret data
→ Write report
→ Share results
 CASPER METHODOLOGY OVERVIEW
A. Two-stage probability sampling
B. Household interview
C. Data weighting to obtain population
estimates
D. Report generated within 36 hours of
data collection and shared with key
stakeholders and decision-makers.
 CASPER TEAM COMPOSITION

“Diverse” teams of two

A. Locals with non-locals

B. Avoid male-male teams
C. Experience with less experience
D. At least one person must have a car

REMEMBER, BE FLEXIBLE!

 INTRODUCTION TO CASPER PACKET

In your CASPER Packet you should find

 TIPS: SELECTING HOUSEHOLDS TO
A. Maps of your cluster(s) INTERVIEW
→ The map number(s) should A. Apartment Complexes
correspond with the number(s) → Approximate number of
written on the outside of your households by counting on one
folder floor and multiplying by the
B. 1 consent form in a plastic cover number of floors
→ Numerous additional consent → High rises: randomly select 7
forms floors then get an interview on
C. At least 7 questionnaires per cluster each floor
D. At least 2 tracking forms per cluster → Mixed clusters: attempt houses
E. Handful of referral forms (approximately first then move to apartment
3) complex
 STAGE 2: SYSTEMATIC SAMPLING OF  Goal is to have
HOUSEHOLDS interviews spread out in
A. Randomly choose a starting point (e.g., the cluster.
intersection) prior to heading into the B. Replacing households only if vacant,
field refused, or after THIRD attempt with no
B. Select the nearest house, then every nth answer
house after C. Always call headquarters if there are any
C. Choose the based on the size of the questions
cluster D. REMEMBER TO TRACK ALL
→ Look at the approximate HOUSEHOLDS!!!
number of households found on  TIPS: REPLACING HOUSEHOLDS
the map A. ONLY replace Households if:

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 ENVIRONMENTAL DISASTERS AND EMERGENCIES
7 NCM 120: Disaster Nursing
Ma. Concepcion B. Sekito, MPH, RN• May 20, 2022

→ VACANT B. May need to pass personal identifying

→ REFUSES, or information to health department or
→ No answer after THREE other agency
ATTEMPTS C. Will illicit immediate follow up
TAKE NOTE THAT THIS IS ONLYFOR THE  QUESTIONNAIRE
UTILIZATION OF CASPER, WE DON’T DO A. Review questionnaire
REPLACEMENT FOR THE CMMUNITY B. Clarification of specific questions
DIAGNOSIS IN THE BARANGAYS. NO → Intent of question
REPLACEMENT! It is expected that each → Explanation of skip patterns
household has to be interviewed because it is C. Tips for completion
for the baseline information. In the case of D. Interviewing
CASPER, households are randomly selected. → Empathy and Respect are key
 THINGS TO AVOID IN CASPER → Remind the participant that all
A. Convenience sampling answers are confidential
B. Target sampling → Be confident
C. Sequential sampling → STANDARDIZE
D. Poor record keeping  STANDARDIZATION
A. Why Standardize Procedures
Remember: an individual can choose the clusters, but → Increases reliability of data
random selection of households is the → Allows others to replicate
responsibility of the whole team! findings
→ Easier to explain findings
 TRACKING FORM → Helpful to identify sources of
A. Used for tracking every household bias/error
sampled B. Why Standardization is Difficult
B. Each cluster is collected on a separate
→ Situation is artificial
form
→ Using a script can be awkward
C. Allows for calculation of response rates
→ Tempting to change content
 STANDARDIZATION PROCEDURES
A. Tips for standardization
→ Ask the question in the same
order with the exact wording
→ Don’t prefill questions or finish
respondents sentences
→ Read the entire question
→ Record answers verbatim
B. Departures from standardization
→ Changing wording = asking
different questions
→ If respondents have difficulty…
pause!
→ Document any departures

Standardization increases reliability of

data

 ENDING THE CASPER INTERVIEW

A. Thank for participation!
B. Offer how and when results will be
available
C. Check the entire questionnaire before
leaving
D. Re-check the questionnaire and tracking
 CONSENT SCRIPT
form once
A. Consent script = intro to the CASPER
E. you leave the household
B. Verbal consent is sufficient
 SAFETY FIRST!
→ No personal identifiers collected
A. Watch out for domestic/wild animals
C. Provide household with copy
B. No trespassing vs no solicitation
D. Consent script contains
C. Personal safety
→ Who you are
→ Only enter a household if both
→ Why you are there
you and your partner feel
→ How long it will take
comfortable to do so
→ Explicit request for consent –
→ Decide this now
PLEASE WAIT
→ IF you enter a household, stay
→ Phone number for verification or
in the entryway closest to door
questions
→ Know you limitations
 CONFIDENTIAL REFERRAL FORM
→ Drink plenty of water
A. Report urgent household need(s)
 WHEN YOU RETURN

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 ENVIRONMENTAL DISASTERS AND EMERGENCIES
7 NCM 120: Disaster Nursing
Ma. Concepcion B. Sekito, MPH, RN• May 20, 2022
A. Review all forms – please be patient!
→ Clarify any unknowns in the
questionnaire with the team leaders
(e.g., missing, illegible)
→ Wait for the leaders to check correct
completion of the tracking form
→ Submit any referral forms
B. Return supplies to the team leads
C. Check out
 TEAM MEMBER RESPONSIBILITIES
A. Remain flexible – 2 person team
B. Think safety
C. Understand the objectives
D. Adhere to the methodology
→ Map –sample validity
→ Interview – data quality
→ Tracking form – 7. Identify restoration of electricity as critical to
representativeness
→ Data entry - timeliness
E. Be respectful
F. Understand personal limitations
You can utilize CASPER in terms of important disasters
covering chemical spill, land, waste, and brown fields,
mold, oil spills, conventional gas and oil production, use
of pesticides, radiation release and contamination,
water, and pharmaceuticals. Is being utilized to assess
for the hazards as well as the potential health risk
associated with the exposure with the toxic chemicals.
You have to remember that nurses are supposed to
determine the important hazards in the environment,
and nurses are supposed to work, to create an
environment that promote and sustain health for all
citizens. An increase in scientific knowledge regarding
development of toxic chemicals and advances in
technologies must be balanced by the wisdom restricting
their transport and use. The impact on the healthy
community resulting from an environmental emergency
may be immediate, ongoing, or delayed, depending on
the type of toxic agent and the duration of the exposure,
populations may need to be monitored for years to
evaluate the health impact of the event.
Another important point, nurses must be educated about
the tracking of environmental hazards. So, the utilization
of CASPER is an example here of the process for
tracking environmental hazards.
Moreover, nurses must become advocates for public
policies limiting toxic agent use and must become
participants in terms of research focusing on the health
effects of environmental agents.
So, as a future nurse, what do you intend to do should
there be environmental disaster? What will be your
recommendations, in terms of preventing occurrence of
important disasters?
RESTORING PUBLIC HEALTH UNDER DISASTER
CONDITIONS: BASIC SANITATION, WATER AND
FOOD SUPPLYAN SHELTER
OBJECTIVES:
1. Describe the 10 essential functions of public
health as they relate to a disaster.
2. Describe the importance of a clean
environment as a foundation for good
health.
3. Appraise both risks and resources in the
environment to meet the basic needs (food,
water, shelter, and safety) for survival.
4. Discuss the major health risks in a
population affected by a disaster and
identify and prioritize according to
prevention/control of disease, epidemics,
and other hazards.
5. Describe rapid environmental assessment
(REA) as a methodology for data collection
in a disaster-affected community
6. 6. Discuss the Sphere Project humanitarian
standards for disaster response
protecting human health.
 Populations affected by a disaster experience
diminished environmental conditions that put
them at risk of negative health outcomes.
 Basic physiological needs must be in a timely
manner to ensure survival.
 Sanitation is a cornerstone of the public health
response.
 Establishing, implementing and continuously
monitoring minimum standards for water and
food safety, sanitation, shelter, personal
hygiene, and vector control.
 Vector control, provide a firm foundation for
health promotion. Infectious disease outbreaks
often occur in the postimpact and recovery
phases of a disaster (not during the acute
phase); nurses should be knowledgeable about
diseases endemic to the affected area.
 The risk of epidemics increases if drought,
famine, and/or large displacements of people
are involved.
 The length of time that people spend in
temporary shelter is an important determinant
of the risk of disease transmission that might
lead to major epidemics.
 Working in conjunction with public health
colleagues, and as members of an
interdisciplinary disaster response team. Nurses
must be able to detect environmental changes
that can increase the potential for the spread of
infectious disease.
 Populations affected by a disaster may
experience severely diminished environmental
conditions that put them at risk of negative
health outcomes.
 Health promotion and disease prevention
initiatives must be implemented immediately to
protect the health of all affected individuals,
including meeting basic physiological needs in a
timely manner to ensure survival. Take note that
the priority concern of public health is health
promotion and disease prevention. Curative
aspect is not the main focus. This has to be
implemented to help protect the people within
that particular community.
 Infectious disease outbreaks will usually occur in
the postimpact and recovery phases of a
disaster (not during the acute phase), and the
risks of epidemics increase if drought, famine,
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 ENVIRONMENTAL DISASTERS AND EMERGENCIES
7 NCM 120: Disaster Nursing
Ma. Concepcion B. Sekito, MPH, RN• May 20, 2022

and/or large displacements of people are  The skill set that nurse bring to mitigate against
involved. and adapt to climate changes influence on
 The establishment, implementation, and health is essential
continuous monitoring of minimum standards for  Effective solutions for protecting community
water safety, food safety, sanitation, shelter, health will depend on knowledgeable and
and personal hygiene provide a firm foundation competent nurses who can identify existing and
for health promotion. anticipated emerging health threats in their
 Successful planning for potential outbreaks regions.
demands that nurses be knowledgeable of the  More schools are including climate change and
diseases endemic to the disaster area. health curricular in the coursework, yet this
 Food safety is a particular concern, and not only integration must increase to meet the challenges
during disaster conditions. and the pledge by the health educators
 Awareness of the emergence of foodborne Commitment.
illnesses is of importance to the health and well-  Educators must also share their experience in
being of the entire population. teaching climate change to identify best
 Restoration of electrical power as soon as practices.
possible following a disaster should be a priority. 2:30 mins
 Working in conjunction with their public health
colleagues, and as members of an
interdisciplinary disaster response team, nurses
mustCLIMATE
be able CHANGE
to detectAND HEALTH changes
environmental
that will increase the potential for the spread of
THE ROLEdisease.
infectious OF NURSES IN POLICY AND
PRACTICE

 Widespread scientific consensus exists that the

world’s climate is changing.
 Some of these changes will likely include more
variable weather, heat waves, heavy
precipitation events, flooding, droughts, more
intense storms, sea level rise, and air pollution.
 Each of these impacts could negatively affect
population health.
 While climate change is a global issue, the
effects of climate change will vary across
geographical regions and populations with
vulnerable populations at higher risk for adverse
health consequences.
 Healthcare professionals recognize that there is
a direct and indirect connection between climate
change and human health.
 Knowledge of climate change drives and their
effects must be part of the nurse’s effects must
be part of the nurse’s assessment and decision
making in the development of patient and
community care plans.
 The health of the public must be protected-
nurses can play a vital role in the reduction of
climate change-related impacts on human
health.
 Research and increasing frequency of extreme
weather events and changes in geographical
areas of climate-sensitive infectious disease
transmitters have served to revise considerably
our understanding of climate-change impact on
environments and human health.
 An important consequence of this understanding
is the awareness that climate changes negative
health effects are most severe for those who are
most at risk and that these challenges to
population health clearly demonstrate the
imperative role of nurses. (Goodman, 2016).

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