Disaster/Pandemic preparedness

Nurses COVID

Published

You are reading page 23 of Disaster/Pandemic preparedness

sharona97, BSN, RN

1,300 Posts

Specializes in IM/Critical Care/Cardiology.
Thanks for the info! I re-read my previous post and I don't think I was quite clear enough... I was looking for info on the ICU nurse's role during a disaster. Specifically.. how the role changes when a disaster occurs, what the training needs might be, and significant issues that might arise (Ex: Shortage of nurses, and what to do if technology is is not available).

Thank you again Laidback Al, your information was relevant and useful.

Student4life: Are you currently working in an ICU facility? Ask your HR department. Ask your in house hospital standards dept ( for lack of better word, sorry, whomever works with nosocomial inf, employee safety, etc), no answers, keep asking even if it results with a request for an audience with the head of the hospital. This is a very important question. Good Luck!

indigo girl

5,173 Posts

Specializes in Too many to list.

The Human Condition of Denial Is Alive and Well in Switzerland

Even though the govt went out of its way to instruct the populace to prepare,

most will not. Who will they be expecting to help them?

There seems to be some built-in reluctance among many people to prepare for a crisis. As if, by doing so, they were committing some form of societal sacrilege by doubting the safety and stability of their surroundings.

http://afludiary.blogspot.com/2008/02/holes-in-swiss-pandemic-plan.html

indigo girl

5,173 Posts

Specializes in Too many to list.

Non pharmaceutical Interventions: A Closer Look

The idea behind NPI's is to slow down the transmission of the virus. Prevention is the keyword, and the best thing about NPI's is that most don't require special equipment or supplies.

Individually, none of these items is likely to make much of a difference, but when `layered' on top of one another, they can reduce the number of people infected at the same time.

School Closings are going to be controversial, but in the minds of many people, they will be integral in the slowing down of a pandemic...

There are plans to close schools for as long as 3 months at a time, once a pandemic virus begins to spread in this country. Not everyone is onboard with this policy, and it will certainly cause hardships.

The alternative, however, is far worse. Pandemic influenza viruses often have shown a proclivity for the young, and the H5N1 virus is no exception. So far, half of all deaths recorded from the bird flu virus have been in people under the age of 20.

http://afludiary.blogspot.com/2008/02/npi-closer-look.html

indigo girl

5,173 Posts

Specializes in Too many to list.

California's Triage Plan In A Mass Casualty Event

In this kind of event, it appears that they will accept the services of just about

anyone that offers to help. Health care workers could include pharmacists, vets,

and vet technicians, retired and unlicensed nurses and docs, medical and nursing

students, former military medics...

Read the article. It's an eye opener. Other states have already said that they

will use these types of volunteers also but no other state has a 1900 page

document with scope of the California plan.

Older, sicker patients could be allowed to die in order to save the lives of patients more likely to survive a massive disaster, bioterror attack or influenza pandemic in California.

The 1,900-page document lays the practical - and ethical - groundwork for local and county health departments, hospitals, emergency responders and any able-bodied health care worker likely to be called upon in a catastrophe.

It provides for scenarios in which patients could be herded into school gymnasiums for life-saving care or animal doctors could stitch up the human wounded and set their broken bones.

The guidelines say California's strict nurse-patient ratios can be ignored, and nurses can be assigned to jobs for which they have no experience.

http://afludiary.blogspot.com/2008/03/california-triage-plan-in-mass-casualty.html

pickledpepperRN

4,491 Posts

It is frightening that a janitor who was once a medic could start an IV.

We need current competency.

We need a better plan.

indigo girl

5,173 Posts

Specializes in Too many to list.

A message from the US govt for Americans living and working abroad:

(hat tip PFI/Monotreme)

Remain in Country During a Pandemic

http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/health/health_3096.html

If the WHO declares a pandemic, Americans who are overseas should be prepared to remain in country for an extended period. You should avoid non-essential travel beyond your home and workplace and you should limit activities that could expose you to others who may be ill. Based on varying conditions abroad, Americans should prepare contingency plans and emergency supplies (non-perishable food, potable water or water-purification supplies, medication, etc.) for the possibility of remaining in country for at least two and up to twelve weeks. Visit http://www.pandemicflu.gov to see examples of comprehensive planning checklists for individuals, businesses, schools, and other groups.

Laidback Al

266 Posts

monotreme poses the question that many are asking after waiting years for a pandemic to begin.

stand down or prep up?

http://web.mac.com/monotreme1/iweb/pandemic%20influenza%20information/blog/5298a5a8-5bc7-4b9b-aa49-d268434beb3e.html

is it time to stop worrying about h5n1 and "go on with our lives" as some would say? or are we on the verge of a high cfr pandemic that requires expensive and extensive expenditures of funds? . . . .

i see reasonable preparations for sip [sheltering in place] as a civic duty. by being prepared to remain in your home for an extended period of time, you decrease the drain on scarce resources during a critical time period and contribute to driving down r0. reasonable efforts towards self-sufficiency such as home gardening should be seen as a patriotic duty during a high cfr pandemic just as they were during the depression and wwii. for those with the inclination, learning how to properly use firearms may be a way to contribute to neighborhood security and to serve as a welcome backup to law enforcement during a potentially destabilising event like a high cfr pandemic. improving one's physical condition is a critical preparedness step if one hopes to survive the rigors of a high cfr pandemic, imo. . . . .

indigo girl

5,173 Posts

Specializes in Too many to list.

The American Red Cross has a series of preparedness videos designed to educate citizens

and prepare them for the next pandemic. They would not have done this if they did not

believe in the necessity to do so. These videos come via the group, Prepared Citizens LLC:

http://preparedcitizens.wordpress.com/2008/03/06/american-red-cross-pandemic-readiness-videos/

(hat tip sophiazoe at http://birdflujourney.typepad.com/)

packerbacker

49 Posts

So I have to give a presentation on which I must discuss the Phases of a disaster: Prevention, Response, Recovery (especially related to nurses) Any ideas? I am trying to brain storm on a direction to take the presentation.

What is the main role of nurse during a disaster in your opinion?

indigo girl

5,173 Posts

Specializes in Too many to list.

Sending you a private message!

indigo girl

5,173 Posts

Specializes in Too many to list.

You might get more info by contacting your local hospital's rapid response

team, however, I will try to see if I can connect you to some nurses that

may be able to help with info.

Disaster response is not my area of expertise, however, it is going to be

very pertinent should there be a pandemic involving a virus such as

H5N1 or another virus that most have no immunity to so your question

is very relevant.

indigo girl

5,173 Posts

Specializes in Too many to list.

HHS issues pandemic planning guide for states

http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidrap/content/influenza/panflu/news/mar1408states.html

Guidance materials outline three overarching strategic goals that states plans should address: ensuring continuity of state government and agency operation, protecting citizens, and maintaining critical infrastructure and key assets. Several operating objectives are included in each goal. For example, for maintaining critical infrastructure, states are encouraged to build private-public partnerships and beef up protection and information sharing.

"Pandemic influenza begins as a health issue . . . but it becomes a matter of continuity for the whole society," Raub said.

Christa-Marie Singleton, MD, MPH, associate director for science in the division of state and local readiness at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), said states, territories, and the District of Columbia are required to submit their pandemic plans to HHS so that the agency can establish a baseline for each state's pandemic preparedness and help each identify gaps in planning. The guidance walks states through each issue to consider and includes details on how to format and submit their plans to the HHS.

Singleton said the federal government might withhold some 2009 funding for states that don't submit their pandemic plans. The guidance document says the plans are due on Jun 16.

+ Add a Comment