Types of Disasters
What are two types of Disasters?
Internal Disaster
External Disaster
What are three examples of Pandemics?
Ebola virus in West Africa in 2004-2015
Swine Flu in 2009 - now
Covid- 19 in 2020- now
How is called the process that is the key in any multi - causality or mass response to rapidly sort ill or injured patients into priority categories based on their acuity and survival potential?
Triage
What is the first action of first responders in a disaster?
Remove injured and uninjured people from danger
What is the most important action of the nurse during and after a community disaster?
Health Assessment, including psychosocial health.
What is the most important outcome of any internal disaster?
Maintain patient, staff, and visitor safety.
What was the most important outcome of improving emergency preparedness after the terrorist attacks of The Twin Towers on September 11, 2001?
Changed the ability to handle multi-casualty or mass casualty events safely.
What are the categories of the disaster triage system?
Red - tagged patients have immediate threats to life such as airway obstruction or shock. Emergent, Class I
Yellow - tagged patients have major injuries such as open fractures with distal pulse and large wounds that need treatment within 30 minutes to 2 hours. Can wait a short time, Class II
Green - tagged patients have minor injuries that can be managed in more than 2 hours such as: fractures, strains, abrasions, and contusions. Nonurgent, Class III
Black - tagged patients are expected to die and they are in the class IV
Which are the nursing role in Health Care Facility Emergency Preparedness and Response?
Assessment of the overall situation
Identifying needs, capabilities, priorities
Planning and implementing
Evaluating the disaster response
What medical conditions can people develop after a disaster?
Acute Stress Disorder or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
How is called an event occurred inside a health care facility or campus that could endanger the safety of patients or staff.
Internal Disaster
What was one of the impact caused by the Hurricane Katrina in 2005?
Overwhelmed the existing emergency care system.
More than 1000 deaths, devastating environmental and property damage.
During Hospital Emergency Preparedness what role is assumed by the physician or nurse who rapidly evaluates each patient to determine priorities for treatment?
Triage officer
What are some basic supplies for personal preparedness that the nurse could educate the community to have ready in case of catastrophic event?
Backpack
Clean weather appropriate clothing, sturdy shoes
Portable water
Non perishable food
Flashlight that is battery powered
Pocket knife
Personal identification
Towel and washcloth, and toiletries
Paper, pens, and pencils
Cell phone and charger
Blanket, sleeping back
Battery power radio
What are some ways to help the staff to prevent Acute Stress Disorder and Post - traumatic Stress Disorder following a Mass Casualty event?
1. Use available counseling
2. Encourage and support co workers
3. Monitor each others stress level and performance
4. Take breaks when needed
5. Talk about feelings with staff and manger
6. Drink plenty of water and eat healthy snacks for energy.
7. Keep in touch with family, friends, and significant others.
8. Do not work more than 12 hours per day.
Mention three potential Internal Disasters and two External Disasters.
Internal Disasters: Fire, Explosion, loss of Critical utilities (electricity, water, computer systems, communication capabilities), and violence
External Disasters: Natural (hurricane, earthquake, tornado) Technology (Terrorism with explosive devices or a malfunction of a nuclear reactor with radiation exposure)
How is known an infection or disease that occurs throughout the population of a country or the world?
Pandemic
What does The Joint Commission of 2017 mandate in the hospitals related to emergency preparedness?
The Joint Commission mandates that hospitals have an emergency preparedness plan that is rested through drills or actual participation in a real event at least twice a year.
Mention three of the nurse's role in responding to Health Care Facility Fires?
1. Remove any patient or staff from immediate danger of the fire or smoke
2. Discontinue oxygen for all patients who can breath without it.
3. For patients on life support, maintain their respiratory status manually until removed from the fire are.
4. Direct ambulatory patients to walk to a safe location.
5. If possible, ask ambulatory patients to help push wheelchair patient out of danger.
6. After everyone is out of danger, seek to contain the fire by closing doors and windows and using ABC extinguisher.
7. Do not risk injury to yourself or staff members while moving patients or attempting to extinguish the fire.
What tool is used to assess survivor response to a disaster?
Impact of Event Scale - Revised (IES-R)
How would you describe an External Disaster?
Event outside the health care facility or campus, somewhere in the community, which requires the activation of the facility's emergency management plan.
What is the main different between multi casualty and mass casualty?
The main difference is based on the scope and scale of the incident, considering the number and severity of victims or casualties.
Which are some organization that collaborate together when catastrophic events occur?
National Guard
American Red Cross
Health Department
Medical Reserve Corps (MRC)
Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT)
Who play a big role in the emergency preparedness or emergency management plan?
The nurse.
How the nurses help survivors after a mass casualty event?
1. Be calm and reassuring
2. Establish rapport through active listening and honest communication.
3. Offer resources to gain a sense of personal control.
4. Help to adapt to their new surroundings and routines through simples and concrete explanations.
5. Convey caring behaviors, and provide a sense of safety and security.
6. Request crisis counselors respond and assist in providing compassionate support to victims and families.