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Health Professionals and Disaster Preparedness

Policy Date: 1/1/1991
Policy Number: 9116

9116: Health Professionals and Disaster Preparedness

The American Public Health Association,
Knowing that the United Nations has declared that disaster preparedness and mitigation in an international priority for the decade 1990-2000, and that implementation of this theme will encourage international cooperation in improving disaster mitigation and response;1 and
Realizing that the Association should work in cooperation with the other agencies, organizations, and professionals (i.e. Federal Emergency Management Agency, American Red Cross, National Disaster Medical Systems, Emergency Medical Services, American College of Emergency Physicians, and World Health Organization, etc.) which are actively involved in preparing for and responding to disasters; and
Knowing that the Association, like others, has recognized that all parts of the United States are at risk from natural or technological disasters2,3 and that natural disasters that have occurred in the US often require the response of public health professionals; and
Noting that the incidence of some natural disasters is expected to increase in the United States in the next decade4,6 and that levels of preparedness vary among regions of the country;7 and
Knowing that the incidence of technological disasters cannot be predicted and that many communities are at risk due to the proximal location of chemical plants, transportation of hazardous materials, etc.;8 and
Recognizing that, in the event of a disaster, state and local public health officials have primary responsibility for responding to the health needs of the victims, and that it is their appropriate role to work with other responding agencies in actively coordinating the various response efforts that impact health;9-11 and
Realizing that health personnel may not always understand their own professional roles because little information has been organized to differentiate the skills/knowledge needed by public health professionals; and that health personnel may experience extreme stress and burn-out in responding to disasters;
Recognizing that health professionals can play a key role in various risk reduction and prevention strategies; and
Observing that disasters occur sporadically, and being aware that professionals with experience acquired from one disaster may not have any opportunity to share what they have learned with others who respond in the next event;12,13 and
Noting that disaster preparedness as a health promotion and disease prevention strategy has not been fully utilized;14-19 and
Being cognizant of the fact that disaster plans usually do not include provisions for data collection, and that inadequate documentation of the health impacts greatly hinders health planning and the measurement of outcomes, and is inadequate for public health purposes;16-18 and
Knowing that international efforts have been underway to mobilize increased participation of the health sector in disaster preparedness, and affirming that APHA’s efforts should be consistent with this international effort; therefore,
Urges:
1. APHA members and other public health professionals to take a lead role in coordinating with all health providers and others engaged in the planning for and responding to emergencies at the federal, state, and local levels in an effort to prevent injuries;
2. The US Federal Government to supply dedicated workforce and funding in order to provide greater support to state and local public health personnel and to assist in building an improved infrastructure for emergency planning and for response at the local level, including the provision of models of organized response teams with both mental health and public health professionals;
3. Increased federal emphasis be given to the training of regional, state, and local public health personnel about their role in disaster preparedness and management;
4. Programs should be developed to address strategies to cope with burn-out and post traumatic stress syndrome for workers involved in disaster response;
5. The Federal Government to establish increased sources of funding for research into the health effects of natural and technological disasters and their prevention;
6. Schools of public health develop curricula geared at preparing public health professionals in emergency planning and response to disasters; and
7. Support of the World Health Organization in its efforts to improve preparedness for disasters.

References


  1. United Nations, General Assembly and Economic and Social Council: International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction. New York: The United Nations, Resolution 1989/99 of July 26, 1989.

  2. National Research Council: Reducing Disasters’ Toll: The US Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction. Washington, DC: National Academy Press, 1989.

  3. American Public Health Association: Policy Statement No. 8916: Development of A Model Response System for Civilian Disaster Emergencies. APHA Public Policy Statements, 1948-present, cumulative. Washington, DC: APHA, current volume.

  4. Nishenko SP, Bollinger GA: Forecasting damaging earthquakes in the central and eastern United States. Science 1990;249: 1412-1416.

  5. Centers for Disease Control: Public Health Consequences of Disasters. Atlanta, GA: CDC, 1989.

  6. Gray WM: Strong association between West African rainfall and US landfall of intense hurricanes. Science 1990;249:1251-1256.

  7. Mahoney LE, Reutershan TP: Catastrophic disasters and the design of disaster medical care systems. Ann Emerg Med 1987;16:1085-1095.

  8. Landesman LY: Improving medical preparedness for chemical accidents: An inter-organizational resource review. Int J Mass Emerg Disasters Aug 1989;7(2):152-166.

  9. American Public Health Association: Policy Statement No. 6211(PP): The Role of State and Local Health Departments in Planning for Community Health Emergencies. APHA Public Policy Statements, 1948-present, cumulative. Washington, DC: APHA, current volume.

  10. Foege WH: Public health aspects of disaster management. In: Last JM (ed): Public Health and Preventive Medicine. Norwalk, CT: Appleton-Century-Crofts, 1986;1879-1886.

  11. Institute of Medicine, Committee for the Study of the Future of Public Health: The Future of Public Health. Washington, DC: IOM, 1988.

  12. Federal Emergency Management Agency: Principle Threats Facing Communities and Local Emergency Management Coordination. Washington, DC: FEMA 191, April 1990.

  13. AufDerHeide E: Disaster Response: Principles of Preparation and Coordination. St. Louis: C.V. Mosby Co, 1989.

  14. Lechat MF: Disasters: A Public Health Problem. Paper presented at WHO Disaster Preparedness Workship, Trieste, Italy. Geneva: WHO, 1984.

  15. Lechat MF: Updates: The epidemiology of health effects of disasters. Epidemiol Rev 1990;(12):192-197.

  16. Noji EK, Sivertson KT: Injury prevention in natural disasters: A theoretical framework. Disasters: Int J Disaster Stud Pract 1987;11(4):290-296.

  17. Duclos P, Issacson J: Preventable deaths related to floods. (Letter) Am J Public Health 1987;77:1474.

  18. Binder S, Saunderson LM: The role of the epidemiologist in natural disasters. Ann Emerg Med 1987;16:1081-1084.

  19. Noji EK, Baldwin R, Toole M, Glass R, Blake P: The role of WHO in disaster epidemiology: Operations, Research and Training. WHO Expert Panel on Emergency Relief Operations. Geneva: World Health Organization, March 11-15, 1991.

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