WHAT IS A DISASTER?

Websters def any happening that

Causes great harm or damage; calamity
Practical def any situation where the
Numbers of patients or severity of illness
Exceeds the ability of the facility or system
To care for them, requiring external
Assistance

HISTORY
The term disaster medicine first appeared in the medical lexicon in
the post World War II era. Although coined by former and current
military physicians who had served in World War II, the term grow
out of a concern for the need to care for military casualties, or
nuclear victims[

WHAT IS DISASTER MEDICINE?

Disaster medicine is the area of physician medical specialization
serving the dual areas of providing medical care to disaster
survivors and providing medically related disaster
preparation, disaster planning, disaster response and disaster
recovery .
Leadership throughout the disaster life cycle. Disaster Medicine
specialists provide insight, guidance and expertise on the principles
and practice of medicine both in the disaster impact area and
healthcare evacuation receiving facilities to emergency
management professionals, hospitals, healthcare facilities,
communities and governments.

WHY DO I CARE?

Human life is very important

Disasters are unpredictable

A disaster may occur near you
Disaster victims may come to you
May involve you or your family
May involve your Hospital or staff

Life CYCEL OF DISASTER

In general four phases of disaster response:
disaster preparation
Preparedness
Response
Recovery

BASICS OF DISASTER PLANNING

STATE( REQUIREMENTS)
Disaster Medicine specialists should have a written disaster plan
Administrator / Command Staff
Oversees development of the disaster plan
Directs overall response to the disaster/emergency
Ensures drills/exercises conducted semi-annually
Evaluates & updates the plan annually
Decides who has authority to activate disaster plan

BASICS OF DISASTER PLANNING

HAZARD (preparation)
Risk Assessment
Potential for Natural Disasters
(e.g. earthquakes, fires, avalanches)

Potential for Man-Made Disasters

(e.g. chemical plants, nuclear facilities)

Portals of Entry
(e.g. airports, populations in your community)

Terrorist Threats Difficult to Assess =

All communities are at risk

Capabilities / Capacity Evaluation
Available Resources
(e.g. drugs, beds, ventilators, surgical equip)

Staff
(e.g. physicians, PAs, nurses, nonmedical)

Physical Limitations
(e.g. size, location, isolation/decon facilities)

Vulnerabilities

BASICS OF DISASTER PLANNING

(PREPAREDNESS)
Develop a Disaster Plan
Command & Control System
Limit confusion
standardized command structure
Hospital emergency response team
Facility Protection
Hospital security, patient flow, crowd control
Patient decontamination, staff protection
Evacuation
Personal / Family Disaster Plans
Develop A Disaster Plan
Supplies
Impossible to stock all possible supplies
Plan for loss of power, light, phones, etc.
Notification Plans Communications
Review Available Communications
Plan Redundant Sources
One of the Most Difficult to Plan
Internet & phone sole source in most clinics
Cell phone circuits may become overloaded
Satellite/aux communications costly

Disaster response
- The ability to answer the intense challenges posed by a disaster
event. Disaster response is the third phase of the disaster life cycle.

Disaster recovery
- The restoration or return to the former or better state or
condition preceding a disaster event. Disaster recovery is the
fourth phase of the disaster life cycle
Recovery
Facility decontamination, resupply
Psychological support
Financial sources

CONCLUSIONS
Disaster Preparedness is important for
Physician medical specialization care providers, regardless of
location
And size of Hospital
A well developed plan will augment the
States disaster response under SEMS(Standardized System for Managing
Disasters within the state)
A well organized plan will provide care to the
Staff, patients and community in a time of crisis
Your plan will provide safety to your staff and unaffected patients
Assess your risk and community needs
Develop your plan based on these risks and needs with job action
sheet describing each positions role
Teach your plan

EXERCISE YOUR PLAN

Dr.Ahmad H Metair
Disaster Medicine Specialist
Scientific board Member of the German institute for Disaster Medicine \Tubengen
General Manager of the German Institute in the Middle East
Member of German Society of Disaster Medicine
Member of World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine