Chapter Eight: Emergency Preparedness
Overview
A disaster is an event that can be human-made or environmental (or a combination of both) that causes suffering and demands more resources to manage than the community can provide. Disaster preparedness includes planning and anticipating all forms of hazards and establishing protocols for management in an ever-changing environment. Social vulnerability refers to the potential negative effects on communities caused by external stresses on human health. Such stresses include natural or human-caused disasters or disease outbreaks. Reducing social vulnerability can decrease both human suffering and economic loss.
Learning Objectives
- Discuss the disaster management cycle
- Understand the role of the community health nurse in disaster management
- Identify agents of bioterrorism and their route of delivery
Key Terms
- syndromic surveillance
- bioterrorism
Content for this chapter was adapted from “Emergency Preparedness and Response” from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2024).
Introduction
Emergency preparedness and response is a key role for all nurses (American Nurses Association [ANA], 2022). Many states now require registered nurses to serve as emergency first responders in emergency departments. Public health nurses are involved in helping individuals and communities prepare for emergencies and natural disasters such as hurricanes and floods. Public health nurses also work with cities and states to assist in preparedness and recovery plans. Since public health nurses are familiar with the characteristics of different communities, the principles of preparedness, and person-centered planning for recovery, they are key members of disaster response and recovery teams. Nurses can gain specialization in National Healthcare Disaster Certification through the American Nurses Association (ANA, 2022).
Disaster Management Cycle
The terms emergency and disaster often are used interchangeably. This common use of terms can be confusing. It is easiest to understand an emergency and a disaster as being at two ends of a scale in which the size of an incident and the resources to deal with the incident are matched to varying degrees.
At one end of the spectrum, emergencies are usually small-scale, localized incidents that are resolved quickly using local resources. However, small-scale emergencies can escalate into disasters when there has been inadequate planning, inadequate resources, or wasteful use of resources. Resource management is one aspect of emergency management.
At the other end of the spectrum, disasters are typically large-scale and cross geographic, political, and academic boundaries. Disasters require a level of response and recovery greater than local communities can provide (Federal Emergency Management Agency [FEMA], 2022).
Hazard is another term often used interchangeably with disasters. It is important to note that a hazard includes acts of nature as well as human-contrived events