Since the beginning of time, disasters have been a part of life. Disasters can violently disrupt our day to day lives and change the history forever. As the population of the world continues to grow, so does the potential for mass casualty incidents associated with disasters. The more densely populated area, the greater the risk for damage to property and injury or loss.

A “DISASTER” can be difined as “any occurrence that causes damage, ecological disruption, loss of human life or deterioration of health and health services on a scale sufficient to warrant an extraordinary response from outside the affected community or area”

Some of them are1- High wind flow phenomena or storms.2- Earth quakes, floods and epidemics.3- Fire, explosion and transport accident.4- Thermo nuclear disaster, biological and chemical warefare

OBJECTIVES OF DISASTER NURSING

1-  To effectively reduce the impact of disaster on human life

and health.

2- To participate in the co-ordinated efforts of all groups to reduce loss of life, property damage, social and economic disruption and

3-  To initiate rehabilitation

 

Sanford (1984) listed eight principles for disaster management

1-  prevention of occurrence.

2-    Minimizing casualty number.

3-    Preventing further casualties.

4-    Rescueing the injured.

5-    Providing first aid.

6-    Evacuating the injured.

7-    Providing definitive care.

8- Facilitating reconstruction – recovery

Three fundamental aspects of disaster management are :-

  (a) Disaster response

    (b)   Disaster mitigation

(c) Disaster preparedness

Disaster Impact

Response

RISK REDUCTION

PHASE BEFORE A DISASTER

disaster

Recovery phase after a disaster

Rehabilitation

Reconstruction

Mitigation

Preparedness

These three aspects of disaster mgt correspond to different phases in the so-called disaster cycle as shown below :-

The response is determined by the levels of disaster. Levels are not determined by the number of casualties, but by the amount of resource needed

C.H.N should begin the triage.

Triage is the process of separating casualties and allocating treatment based on the victims’s potential for survival priorities are given according to the conditions of pt.

FIRST PRIORITYSECOND PRIORITY

LAST PRIORITYThe management of mass casualties can be further divided into-      Search rescue and first aid.-      Triage.-      Tagging & identification of dead-      Stabilization of victims-      Hospital treatment -      Redistribution of patients to other hospitals if necessary

The final phase in a disaster should lead to restoration of per-disaster condition. Rehabilitation starts from the very first moment of a disaster

  “any means for restoring the independence of a patient after disease or injury, including employment retraining.”

IN FIRST WEEKS AFTER DISASTER, THE PATTERN OF HEALTH NEEDS WILL CHANGE RAPIDLY ,MOVING FROM CASUALTY TREATMENT TO MORE ROUTINE PRIMARY HEALTH CARE. PRIORITIES ALSO WILL SHIFT FROM HEALTH CARE TOWARDS ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH MEASURES SOME OF THEM ARE AS FOLLOWS.

Recovery occurs as all involved agencies pull together to restore the economic and civic life of the community. For example the government takes the lead in rebuilding efforts, while the business community attempts to provide economic support voluntary agencies assess individual and community need and meet those needs , as far as possible.

Emergency prevention and mitigation involves measures designed either to prevent hazards from causing emergency or to lessen the likely effects of emergencies. These measures include flood mitigation works. Appropriate land use planning, improved building codes, the reduction or protection of vulnerable population and structures

In most cases mitigation measures aim to reduce the vulnerability of the system.

There are many disasters which have large elements of human causation either accidental or intended . these can also be divided into three categories.

 (a)    Sudden disasters such as Bhopal gas tragedy.

 (b)   Insidious disasters

(c) War and civil conflicts

1. RED CROSS :- provides relief for human suffering.

2. COMMUNITY & LOCAL GOVT:-helps in maintaining law and order, resume transportation etc.

3. CIVIL DEFENCE SERVICE :- provides for shelter post disaster services, sanitation facility , assistance to affected community.

4. HOSPITAL SERVICE, MEDICAL & PARAMEDICAL PERSONNELS