#3 Disaster - Definition. Damaging Factors. Impact on medical support

Question 1

What is the “Normal” Definition of, Disasters?

Answer 1

A rare and unexpected event of severe magnitude

=> to create severe damage and many casualties

=> that overcome our ability to cope with the consequences

=> THEREFORE, we REQUIRE External Help

Question 2

What is the “WHO” Definition of, Disasters?

Answer 2

A sudden ecological phenomenon

=> of sufficient magnitude

=> TO REQUIRE External Assistance

Question 3

What is the “UN” Definition of, Disasters?

Answer 3

A serious disruption of the functioning of => a community
=> a society

• at any scale, due to hazardous events interacting with conditions of
  => exposure
  => vulnerability
  => capacity

- leading to one or more of the following: 
=> human
=> material
=> economic
=> environmental 
- losses and impacts.

Question 4

Define Damaging Factor

Answer 4

Factor, which a disaster, NEGATIVELY impacts

=> Environment Infrastructure
=> Population

Question 5

How many Damaging Factors, are there?

Answer 5

7

Question 6

What are the 7 Damaging Factors?

Answer 6

1) Thermal
2) Toxic
3) Overpressure
4) Blast Waves
5) Biological
6) Radiological
7) Stress and Panic

Question 7

What is a “Thermal” Damaging Factor?

Answer 7

EXTREME Temperatures

=> cause injuries that lead to

=> irreversible changes in

• human tissues
• organs

Examples:
=> Wildfires
=> Industrial Accidents
=> Natural disasters.

Question 8

What is a “Toxic” Damaging Factor?

Answer 8

Chemical compound (CO).
=> Pollute the area
=> Harm Humans.

Examples
=> Industrial Accidents

=> Fires

Question 9

What is a “Overpressure” Damaging Factor?

Answer 9

• Falling debris.
• Excessive property damage
• Mass casualties.

Examples
=> Floods
=> Hurricanes
=> Tornadoes
=> Tsunamis

Question 10

What is a “Blastwave” Damaging Factor?

Answer 10

The difference in pressure in
=> blast front AND
=> Environment.

Causes:
=> Human tissue + organ tearing
=> Building damages
=> Secondary Injuries

Question 11

What is a “Biological” Damaging Factor?

Answer 11

1) Virus
2) Bacteria toxins.

=> Damages sanitary and hygiene.

Question 12

What is a “Radiological” Damaging Factor?

Answer 12

=> can be Accidental
=> Application of Weapons

• Depends on dose.
• Can be long term.

Question 13

What is a “Stress and Panic” Damaging Factor?

Answer 13

• Not just during the disaster

- Due to the consequences of the disaster

Question 14

How many Impacts are there on Medical Support?

Answer 14

9 Impacts on Medical Support

Question 15

What is the 1st Impact on Medical Support?

Answer 15

=> Type of disaster
=> Onset of disaster
=> Scale of disaster
=> Place of Occurence 
- UNPREDICTABLE!!!

• impossible to plan proper protection
• expect casualties in AOD

Question 16

What is the 2nd Impact on Medical Support?

Answer 16

=> Number of Casualties
=> Type of Casualties
=> Severity of Casualties
- UNPREDICTABLE!!!

• As there is DISPARITY between
  => Available Medical Means
  => Required Medical Means

Question 17

What is the 3rd Impact on Medical Support?

Answer 17

Affects geographical + Administrative Areas
=> of different Size

WITH Diverse Political + Economical Importance

Affects
=> Number of Forward Medical Stations REQUIRED

=> Number of Transport
=> Type of Transport

Question 18

What is the 4th Impact on Medical Support?

Answer 18

Damage to infrastructure
=> (impact phase)

AFFECT
=> human health
=> human life

Question 19

What is the 5th Impact on Medical Support?

Answer 19

Large no. of casualties

=> appearing w/ injuries of diff severity

=> compared to capabilities to deal with them

Question 20

What is the 6th Impact on Medical Support?

Answer 20

AFFECT
=> Sanitary
=> Hygiene

LEADING to Epidemiological Changes

Question 21

What is the 7th Impact on Medical Support?

Answer 21

Disparity in Medical Means & Capabilities

=> REQUIREMENT for Sanitary Transport

=> As NO of Casualties in UNPREDICTABLE !!!

=> LEADING to SCARCITY in NO of Medical Vehicles

Question 22

What is the 8th Impact on Medical Support?

Answer 22

Hospital Capacity Affected

=> DUE to UNPREDICTABLE Number of Casualties

=> THEREFORE, DIFFICULT to treat them

Question 23

What is the 9th Impact on Medical Support?

Answer 23

Disasters with Environmental Damages

=> HAVE 2-Fold Impact!

Example
1) INCREASE in NO of Casualties

2) DUE to POLLUTION
3) LEADING to LIMITATION of Capable Responses, from Medical Teams
4) WHERE they CAN’T ENTER Area of Damage, AOD

=> REDUCES Effectiveness
=> REDUCES Effort to limited time
=> IMPEDED Movement