Question

The Saber City Disaster Preparedness (DP) team wanted to coordinate a mock terrorist attack to study the effectiveness of their disaster-management plan. The goal of the mock attack was to promote confidence, develop skills, coordinate activities, and coordinate participants of the disaster-management team. The DP team planned an attack commonly seen as a terrorist attack: A bus carrying important politicians would explode outside the federal courthouse in downtown Saber. All participating organizations (including the health department, hospital, police department, and fire department) were notified of the date the mock attack would be held. Volunteers were found who would play the victims found at the scene.

After months of planning, the day of the mock attack came. Members of the DP team watched how well the organizations worked together during the events of the mock attack. At noon, reports of an exploded bus in front of the courthouse came across police scanners: “Several people are dead and many more injured.” Emergency medical response teams and hazardous material response crews were called to the scene to care for the injured and attend to the potential hazardous exposure. Policemen quickly cleared the area of people and established a barrier around the scene. Firefighters put out the burning bus.

From the mock attack, the DP team learned that the city of Saber was prepared for a terrorist attack. Communication between organizations flowed smoothly, and the disaster-management team was skillful in controlling the situation. Participants in the mock attack stated that they were happy they had the practice experience and felt more confident in their skills to provide care in the event of a major disaster.

Questions

1. Identify the stage of disaster management that the city of Saber has reached. Be thorough. Provide a rationale to support the choices, not your opinion.

2. You are a nurse who is called to the scene of the mock disaster. Triage the following clients at the disaster site: provide a thorough rationale for the decisions; support with evidence from the textbook for each triage designation.

A. A 60-year-old man with a broken wrist and a history of heart disease.

B. A 30-year-old woman with “road burn” lacerations on her forearms and thighs.

C. A 12-year-old boy with third-degree burn marks over 40% of his body.

3. What are some organizations where nurses can volunteer to work in disasters? Name at least three.

Answer 1

1. Stages of disaster management

• Mitigation

The goal of mock attack was to promote confidence, develop skills, co ordinate activities and co ordinate participants of the disaster management team.

• Preparedness

All participating organizations were notified of the date the mock attack would be held.

Volunteers were found who would play as the victim found at the scene.

• Response

Reports of an exploded bus in front of the courthouse came across the police scanners "several people are dear and many more injured"

Emergency medical team and hazardous material response were called to the scene to care the injured and attend to the potential hazardous exposure.

Police man cleared the area and kept barrier around the scene site.

Fire fighters put out the burning bus.

• Recovery

The impacted region has achieved a degree of physical and environmental stability.

2.Triaging

Red color tag for the 12 year old boy with 40% burns who needs immediate Care

Yellow color tag for the 60 year old patient with wrist fracture and known case of heart disease. Treatment can be delayed as he need open reduction for broken wrist.

Green tag for 30 year old woman with laceration as she has minimal injury and can ambulated.

3. Organizations where nurses can work volunteer in disaster team

National Disaster Medical System

Medical Reserve Corps

American Red Cross