NCM 121 – DISASTER NURSING (LESSON 1)
DISASTER NURSING - is the adaptation of professional
nursing knowledge, skills, and attitude in recognizing
and meeting the physical and emotional needs of
disaster victim
o A disaster is a serious disruption of the
functioning of a society, causing widespread
human, material or environmental losses which
exceed the ability of the affected society to
cope using only its own resources. A similar
definition is used by the World Health
Organization (WHO)
o The main goal of education and training in
disaster nursing is to prepare nurses physically
and psychologically to respond to disasters. The
aim of the current review was to evaluate how
prepared nurses are to deal with disasters in
terms of their:
1. knowledge
2. skill competencies and
3. psychological outlook
What are the phases of Disaster in Nursing?
Emergency managers think of disasters as recurring
events with four phases:
- Mitigation
- Preparedness
- Response and
- Recovery
A. Concepts and Types of Disaster
1. Natural vs. Technological Disasters
A natural disaster refers to any calamitous occurrence
generated by the effects of natural, rather than human-
driven, phenomena. These events result in great loss of
human life, destruction of the natural environment,
private property, or public infrastructure. Natural
disasters can be caused by weather and climate events
or by geological occurrences originating at Earth’s
surface or within the planet itself.
A Technological Disaster is a catastrophic event caused
by either human error in controlling technology or a
malfunction of a technology system. these disasters can
be as serious as natural disasters.
EXAMPLES: INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS: chemical spills,
nuclear incidents.
CYBERATTACKS: disruption of critical infrastructure.
EXAMPLE (TECHNOLOGICAL DISASTER): the marcos-era
bataan nuclear power plant poses risks due to its
location near a fault line.
2. Internal vs. External Disasters
Internal Disasters: Impact within the country’s borders.
- Example: Tropical Storm Ondoy (Ketsana) in
2009 caused severe flooding in Metro Manila.
External Disasters: Originating outside the country but
affecting the Philippines.
- Example: The 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami had
indirect effects on Philippine coastal
communities
Natural disasters are caused by natural phenomena,
such as:
- Geophysical: Earthquakes, volcanoes,
landslides, tsunamis
- Meteorological: Hurricanes, tornadoes, floods,
blizzards
- Hydrological: Floods, droughts
- Climatological: Heat waves, cold waves,
droughts
- Biological: Pandemics, insect infestation
Geophysical disasters are caused by forces within the
Earth, such as:
- Earthquakes: Shaking of the ground caused by
the movement of tectonic plates
- Volcanoes: Eruptions of lava, ash, and gas from
the Earth's interior
- Landslides: Downward movement of rock, soil,
and vegetation
- Tsunamis: Large waves caused by underwater
earthquakes or volcanic eruptions
Meteorological disasters are caused by weather events,
such as:
- Hurricanes: Tropical cyclones with strong winds
and heavy rain
- Tornadoes: Violent rotating columns of air that
touch the ground
- Floods: Excessive amounts of water that
overflow land
 - Blizzards: Severe snowstorms with strong winds
and low visibility
Hydrological disasters are caused by water, such as:
- Floods: Excessive amounts of water that
overflow land
- Droughts: Long periods of below-average
rainfall
Climatological Disasters
Droughts: Prolonged water scarcity.
- Example: El Niño events impact agriculture and
water supply.
Extreme Temperatures: Heatwaves or severe cold
spells.
- Example: Heatwaves pose health risks
Biological Disasters
Disease Outbreaks and Pandemics: Spread of infectious
diseases.
- Example: The COVID-19 Pandemic affected
global health and economies
Terrorism: Terrorism is broadly defined as the use of
violence or intimidation in pursuit of political aims. It's
important to note that the definitions and
interpretations of terrorism vary widely depending on
context and perspective.
Technological Advancements - this refers to progress
and innovation in technology across various fields like
engineering, science, and computing. The pace of
technological change is increasingly rapid, impacting
societies and individuals in diverse ways.
- Examples: Artificial intelligence, renewable
energy, gene editing, virtual reality, quantum
computing
Transitional Human Shelter - this refers to temporary
housing solutions for individuals or families
experiencing homelessness or displacement due to
various factors like natural disasters, economic
hardship, or conflict.
- Examples: Emergency shelters, transitional
housing, tiny homes, supportive housing
models.
PHASES OF A DISASTER
Disasters can be broken down into four distinct phases:
1. Pre-Disaster: The period before the disaster occurs.
2. Warning: The period when there is a warning of an
impending disaster.
3. Impact: The period when the disaster occurs.
4. Recovery: The period after the disaster occurs, when
communities begin to rebuild
4 PHASES OF DISASTER MANAGEMENT
1. Mitigation
2. Preparedness
3. Response
4. Recover
1. Mitigation - mitigation phase occurs before a disaster
takes place. Here, an organization will take steps to
protect people and property, while also decreasing risks
and consequences from a given disaster situation. The
organization’s main goal is to reduce vulnerability to
disaster impacts (such as property damage, injuries, and
loss of life)
2. Preparedness - preparedness phase also occurs
before a disaster takes place. Here, an organization
attempts to understand how a disaster might affect
overall productivity and the bottom line. The
organization will also provide appropriate education
while putting preparedness measures into place
3. Response - response phase occurs in the immediate
aftermath of a disaster. Organizations must focus their
attention on addressing immediate threats to people,
property, and business. Occupant safety and wellbeing
largely depends on your preparedness levels before
disaster strikes.
4. Recovery - recovery phase takes place after a
disaster. This phase is the restoration of an organization
following any impacts from a disaster. By this time, the
organization has achieved at least some degree of
physical, environmental, economic and social stability.
The recovery phase of a disaster can last anywhere
from six months to a year (or even longer depending on
the severity of the incident)