Question

How can we as healthcare professionals prepare ourselves better for emergencies and or disasters in a healthcare and none-healthcare setting?          What preparations should we have in place?             And what type of education should we have in place for our patients and or loved ones?

Answer 1

1.Emergency preparedness and disaster management is a part and parcel of healthcare professionals. Since we are trained in it we shall be able to provide better care.

2.It involves planning for the emergency and when the diaster actually attack we are ready to rehabilitate and also take measures for further prevention of such emergencies.

3.We as an healthcare professional should continuously update our knowledge and get ourselves trained for managing diaster whether it is natural or man made.

4.Taking example of covid-19 we are able to now manage it through our available resources and robust training.

5.Optimum utilisation of resources should be done be it manpower, money, material.

6.We should be prepare to mobilise and allocate our staff to the necessary location in case of emergencies same for the resources (equipments).

7.Also some of self help guidelines should be in place so that patients will get direction and shall cooperate us in providing care to their loved ones.

8.Predetermined policy and standard guidelines to be followed by every staff so that the level of quality care can be provided.

9. Knowledge of triage protocol is must in cases of disaster or any emergencies. Triage is classification of patients according to the severity of injury or illness.

10. Lastly be prepare for recording and reporting of the event that has occurred.