Discussion Post: The Catastrophic Earthquake in Haiti In 2010
Primary prevention in disaster management involves planning prior to the occurrence or onset of a disaster event. The PHN assists in educating the community and families about having plans in place in the event of a disaster and being aware of the local resources families may need during a disaster. This is particularly important for families with small children and those in care of persons who are severely disabled or in need of continual medical care and treatment (Faulkner, 2018). This would include preparing to bring medical supplies needed such as IV fluids, and antibiotics and other medications.
Secondary prevention may occur when the onset of the disaster has occurred or within hours of its impact; this is when response occurs during a disaster. The priority is safety and survival during the response phase and occurs when it is necessary to evacuate or, if more appropriate, find and take shelter. Families and individuals can prepare for this phase by having a designated safe area or location in which they plan to take refuge (Faulkner, 2018). Nursing interventions would include transporting the people to a difffernt area if the proper supplies and equiptment are not available in that specific location. Giving vaccines, and dosing medications that are available. Spirtitual guidance can be given for encouragement and show that someone cares to help them cope with the trauma.
Tertiary prevention occurs after the offending event has ceased and the focus is on recovery. The tertiary and recovery phases may last weeks, months, or even years and involves property damage recuperation, physical rehabilitation of those injured, mental illness evaluation and treatment, planning for future disasters, and financial recuperation. While the focus is on recovering from the event, thought should be given to how well the first two prevention phases went and what can be done to improve them (Faulkner, 2018). This would include assessing any long term care that may be needed, including education on infection prevention.
• Propose one example of a nursing intervention related to the disaster from each of the following levels: primary prevention, secondary prevention, and tertiary prevention. Provide innovative examples that have not been discussed by previous students.
• Under which phase of the disaster do the three proposed interventions fall? Explain why you chose that phase.
• With what people or agencies would you work in facilitating the proposed interventions and why?
The response must include a reference list. Using Times New Roman 12 pnt font, double-space, one-inch margins, and APA style of writing and citations.