Disaster Nursing and Emergency Preparedness - Springer Publishing

Key Messages
■ The frequency of natural disasters, the individuals affected by them, and the economic
costs associated with loss have been steadily increasing over recent years.
■ While disasters are often unexpected, sound disaster planning can anticipate
common problems and mitigate the consequences of the event.
■ Different types of disasters are associated with distinct patterns of illness and
injury, and early assessment of risks and vulnerability can reduce morbidity and
mortality later on.
■ Effective disaster plans are based on knowledge of how people behave. Key components
and common tasks must be included in any disaster preparedness plan.
■ The actual process of planning is more important than the resultant written plan
because those who participate in planning are more likely to accept preparedness
plans in general.
■ Disaster planning must overcome apathy and complacency.
■ Disasters are different from daily emergencies; most cannot be managed simply
by mobilizing additional personnel and supplies. Certain commonly occurring
problems can be anticipated and addressed during planning.
■ A professional mandate exists that calls for nurses to participate in the development
of and serve as an integral part of a community’s disaster preparedness
plan.
■ Nurses must participate as full partners with both the medical community and
emergency management community in all aspects of disaster response and
recovery.
Learning Objectives
When this chapter is completed, readers will be able to
1. Classify the major types of disasters based on their unique characteristics and
describe their consequences.
2. Identify societal factors that have contributed to increased losses (human and
property) as the result of disasters.
3. Describe two principles of disaster planning, including the agent-specific and the
all-hazards approach, and the basic components of a disaster plan.
4. Discuss the five areas of focus in emergency and disaster planning: preparedness,
mitigation, response, recovery, and evaluation.
5. Describe risk assessment, hazard identification, and vulnerability analysis.
6. Assess constraints on a community’s or organization’s ability to respond.
7. Describe the core preparedness actions.
8. Recognize situations suggestive of an increased need for additional comprehensive
planning.