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Articles How Nurses Can Stay Ahead Of Natural Disasters

How Nurses Can Stay Ahead Of Natural Disasters

Principal Author / Publisher:Safetyhow Admin
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We live in a volatile world. The Earth, wondrous and beautiful, gives us a constant reminder that we humans are still at the will of Mother Nature. Despite advances in technology, we are at the mercy of natural disasters because we simply cannot predict when they will happen. Professionals who work in natural disaster relief need to be prepared adequately for these crises, and also prepare for the worst.

The nursing community has various ways to approach natural disasters. In general, nurses need to stay ahead of these traumatic events, to keep human loss at a minimum and aid recovery efforts

Recently, four American Red Cross nurses received recognition with the Florence Nightingale Medal. This is the top recognition Red Cross nurses can receive and it's given to those who display exceptional courage and devotion to victims of conflicts or disasters.

When Disaster Strikes

Whether it’s Super Storm Sandy, or the tragic earthquake in China, natural disasters occur. Safety conditions and in-the-field prowess are aspects of the eventual disaster recovery process. These are but a few of the important elements of disaster preparedness:

1. Education starts with the individual — These large-scale events affirm the importance of nursing. The field has made dramatic strides to provide aid during these moments of disaster which, in turn, has reshaped how many nursing schools approach education. Those within the field should consider spending additional time and money gaining a experience in disaster awareness & preparedness. Many schools have expanded their educational offerings to accommodate this new area of expertise. Indeed, many interested in disaster preparedness are seeking a nursing degree online.

Education should be proactive, especially with free information on the World Wide Web. Sources like Ready.gov provide a wealth of information to understand how to prepare and react to these large-scale events.

2. Start from within — Friends and family can prepare for natural disasters, too. Groups who take care of one another will provide rapid response in the event of emergencies. Friends and family should prepare how to react and recover from major events, including creating a disaster relief supply of food, medicine, etc.

3. Move into the community — Communities need to be proactive forming disaster preparedness & relief plans to provide a quick response to these events. Professionals within the nursing field should become very vocal within their  communities to educate and train individuals within the best of their abilities.

Campaigns such as National Preparedness Month can be immensely beneficial to participants, even on a basic level, and can have a substantial value to communities during larger catastrophes. Disaster relief organizations should stay abreast of vital information on the local and state level, develop a hierarchy to ensure order, and create a system to provide prompt, logical response.

People experiencing large-scale events are frightened, confused and hysterical, which is why it’s vital to develop plans that are easy to understand and implement. In essence, nurses can truly prepare for the worst with the following:

Proper training.
A disaster supply checklist to use and distribute to others.
Disaster supplies.
A proactive approach to educating friends, family, community, and emergency services.

In addition, the American Red Cross offers the following advice for nurses in disasters:

Learn which types of disasters are likely in particular regions and learn how to prepare for them.
Learn about the area's warning systems. What notifications are given and what actions are expected when a warning is issued?
Consider help for aged citizens and disabled people first.

It’s impossible to know when the next natural disaster may strike but it will happen. Those within the field of nursing can do their part to improve any likely outcome.
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