Disaster Response

2060 Words9 Pages
Disaster Response
Tatyana Psarev
Western Governors University

Disaster Response
There are numerous public health personnel involved in disaster response. The major role belongs to Emergency Operation Center Commander, he gathers all the data, and delegates and reviews what needs to be addressed, conducts interviews and hearing. Fire and police departments are responsible for completing search and rescue, and assessing extent of flood and tornado along with EMS and Public Works Department. Public health department is designed to address immediate public health needs. Public health nurse is send out to go door to door in a post disaster situation and assess community needs, and follows up to make sure they were addressed.
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In the first residence the community member had flooding in basement, and was not sure how to properly clean up, it was important for the nurse to know that she can request a environmental health specialist to follow up and advice resident of proper clean up to avoid possible hazardous materials. Second resident did not have basic necessities, including electricity, available and had a lot going on in taking care of baby and mother-in-law. It is important to let the resident know that there are resources such as shelters available if she needed it, without electricity it is hard to get by. It is also important to let her know where she can obtain resources that are required such as food, and items needed for the baby. A follow up visit is crucial with this resident in about 2-3 days. Third resident, there is a language barrier. The nurse must have a language line available if there is no one in the house that speaks. Finally the last resident did not have his medication available that he takes daily. It is important for nurse to take patients blood pressure to make sure resident does not require immediate treatment. Explain to resident the importance of shelter placement, so he can have access to medication and care. The nurse must thoroughly assess the needs of the community. Nurse must educate members everything from disease prevention, contamination, to safety after disaster, to watching out for hazardous materials. Community health nurse must be properly prepared for anything out in the field. Any emergency situation might arise and nurse must be prepared for it. They must be able to a) apply professional nursing skills to a range of emergency situations; b) ongoing ability to maintain regular communication with partner professionals in other agencies involved in emergency response; and

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