Disaster Nursing Lecture Week 1 • Over the last century the specialty of emergency

nursing has developed because the rapid evaluation and

Disaster nursing - nursing is the adaptation of
professional nursing knowledge, skills, and attitude in
recognizing and meeting the physical and emotional
needs of disaster victims.
Disaster is a result of vast ecological breakdown in the
relation between humans and their environment, as
serious or sudden event on such scale that the stricken
community needs extraordinary efforts to cope with
outside help or international aid.
treatment of patients during wartime was noted to save
lives. Disaster medicine and disaster nursing follow
through – both created out of necessity.
Basic Principles
The basic principles of nursing during special (events)
circumstances and disaster conditions include:
1. Rapid assessment of the situation and of nursing care
needs.

2. Triage and initiation of life-saving measures first.

GOAL OF DISASTER NURSING:
To prepare nurses physically and psychologically to
respond to disasters
• How prepared are you in terms:
O knowledge about disasters
o Skills competencies to respond to any disaster
To develop nurses’ self-confidence, and self-efficacy in
disaster preparedness.
To enhance their psychological preparedness by
strengthening the psychological
capacity and mental well-being.
3. The selected use of essential nursing interventions
and the elimination of nonessential nursing activities.
4. Adaptation of necessary nursing skills to disaster and
other emergency situations. The nurse must use
imagination and resourcefulness in dealing with a lack of
supplies, equipment, and personnel.
5. Evaluation of the environment and the mitigation or
removal of any health hazards.
6. Prevention of further injury or illness.
7. Leadership in coordinating patient triage, care, and
transport during times of crisis.
8. The teaching, supervision, and utilization of auxiliary
medical personnel and volunteers.

HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES: 9. Provision of understanding, compassion, and

emotional support to all victims and their families.
• Florence Nightingale – functioned as disaster nurse
during the Crimean war. Wartime health care is similar
to disaster health care in that the needs far outweigh
N – Nursing plan should be integrated and coordinated
the resources.
U – Update physical and psychological preparedness
• Clara Barton, another pioneering nurse, worked
diligently during the Civil War providing care to soldiers R – Responsible for organizing, teaching and supervision
and then founded the American Red Cross in 1881.
S – Stimulate community participation
She came to be known as “the angel of the battlefield.”
E – Exercise competence
By her example, and the establishment of the American
Red Cross, a new precedent for volunteerism was set.

• The flu pandemic of 1918-1919 affected millions of

people worldwide.

• The health care system was entirely overwhelmed,

requiring the establishment of alternate care sites.

• The supply of nurses could not keep up with the

exceptional demands of the growing patient population,
yet the nurses’ adaptability and flexibility allowed them
to provide the best care possible with the resources
available.

Levels of Disaster
Disasters are further classified according to its
magnitude in relation to the ability of the agency or
community to respond.
1. Level I: If the organization, agency, or community is
able to contain the event and respond effectively
utilizing its own resources.
2) Level II: If the disaster requires assistance from
external sources, but these can be obtained from nearby
agencies.
3) Level III: If the disaster is of a magnitude that
exceeds the capacity of the local community or region
and requires assistance from state-level or even federal
assets.
Characteristics of Disasters
• Intensity of impact:
– Intense destruction & disruption in a short period of
time causes greater emotional distress among survivors
• Impact ratio (the proportion of the community
sustaining losses): When a large proportion of the
population is impacted, fewer are available to provide
material and emotional support
• Potential for recurrence of other hazards: Threat
of recurrence causes anxiety and heightened stress
• Social & Cultural Aspects: Social & cultural changes
can be profoundly disturbing. Both natural and human-
caused disasters can disrupt culture.
KEY ELEMENTS OF DISASTER
• HAZARDS – sources that may potentially cause harm
to human life, property, or any interest of value.
• VULNERABILITY – the state of inability to withstand
a hostile environment, or the possibility of being harmed
physically or emotionally.
• CAPACITY / CAPABILITY - the combination of all
the strengths and resources available within a
community, that can reduce the level of risk, or the
effects of a disaster. It may include physical,
institutional, social or economic means as well as skilled
personal or collective attributes such as 'leadership' and
'management.
• RISK - the probability of harmful consequences, or
expected losses (deaths, injuries, property, livelihoods,
economic activity disrupted or environment damaged)
resulting from interactions between natural or human-
induced hazards and vulnerable conditions
• May cause premature deaths, illnesses, and injuries in
the affected community,
generally exceeding the capacity of the local health care
system.
• May destroy the local health care infrastructure, which
will therefore be unable to respond to the emergency.
Disruption of routine health care services and prevention
initiatives may lead to long-term consequences in health
outcomes in terms of increased morbidity and mortality
• May create environmental imbalances, increasing the
risk of communicable diseases and environmental
hazards.
• May affect the psychological, emotional, and social
well-being of the population in the affected community.
Depending on the specific nature of the disaster,
responses may range from fear, anxiety, and depression
to widespread panic and terror.
• May cause shortages of food and cause severe
nutritional deficiencies.
• May cause large population movements (refugees)
creating a burden on other health care systems and
communities. Displaced populations and their host
communities are at increased risk for communicable
diseases and the health consequences of crowded living
conditions.
Roles of Nurses in Disaster Events
MAJOR ROLES OF A NURSE IN DISASTERS
1. Determine magnitude of the event
2. Define health needs of the affected groups
3. Establish priorities and objectives
4. Identify actual and potential public health problems
5. Determine resources needed to respond to the needs
identified
6. Collaborate with other professional disciplines,
governmental and non-governmental agencies
7. Maintain a unified chain of command
8. Communication
Communication during Disaster
Communications during disaster response and after
disaster (recovery) plays a big role in ensuring that
information is channeled appropriately and reliably.
Effective Communication is helpful during this period to
connect with:
• Family members
• Support systems
• First responders
• Public
DMIS – Disaster Management Information
System
A software of database derived from GIS ( Geographic
Information System) that provides information related to
the environmental situations and natural resources to
the decision makers that would help in the development
of decision making process and systematic planning and
management of available resources particularly during
disaster.
DMIS is not web-based, it uses VPN to ensure privacy.
GIS – a computer system technology used to capture,
store, check and displays data related to the position of
the earth surface. It helps individuals or organization
better understand spatial patterns and relationships.

The Disaster Management Cycle
Types of Communication System Used During
Disasters
• Mobile apps – example: NDRRMC apps, Pag-asa
apps, FEMA apps
• Social media – FB, google earth etc.
• Cell phones
• Landline
What if all of these were shot down due to disaster?
What other methods available for use?
• Radios AM/FM –useful even in remote areas
• Walkie talkies – useful in conveying information or
exchange information.
• Satellite phones – useful for first responders
especially in remote areas
• Police scanner – although user cannot broadcast on
it, it allows access to important information in the event
of emergency situations.
• Word by mouth
Role of Communication During Disaster
• Connects with the first responders, family, support
services and the public.
• Coordinate responses
• Prevent panic to prevent potential mass casualties
• Mobilize resources
• Promote appropriate behavioral response
• Disseminate relevant information
Role of the Media During Disaster
Conventionally, Disaster information is channeled
through the following outlets:
• Television
• Radio
• Print medium (newspaper)
These days:
• Fb live
• YT channel live
Positive Role of the Media:
• Supplies direction and information to the affected
public
• Stimulates volunteerism and donations, including blood
donations.
• Discloses needs for improvement in governmental
response
• Provide real time information
• Disseminates information for preparedness measures
for future similar disasters
• Sometimes withholds potentially counterproductive
information
Importance of the media before, during and after
disaster:
It is important to make the media part of the emergency
management team prior to a disaster event. They should
be brought into disaster planning and exercising
activities.
This way, their coverage will be more informed and
accurate if they know the local players and programs
ahead of time. The media needs to communicate to the
public to:
• • Reassure the public that what needs to be done is
being done.

• • Communicate the progress that is being made.

• • Provide correct and needed information and dispel

rumors.