Heat Emergency Planning - Essay Example

The Heat - Wave Emergency Plan Copyright Within the past decade, several European countries have been struck by heat -waves that have resulted in high levels of excess mortality. Thus, it is clear that a need exists to better manage heat – wave emergencies and planning for a heat – wave emergency response is now often a sub-plan for a health emergency plan for a region. Fortunately, it is now possible to forecast a heat – wave relatively accurately and this means that depending on the information provided by the metrological office, a heat – wave emergency response plan can be executed. This brief report presents a discussion about planning for a heat – wave emergency. Declaration I certify that, except where cited in the text, this work is the result of research carried out by the author of this study. _____________________________________________ Name and Signature of Author October 2008 This write - up is presented in fulfillment for the requirements related to a report about a Heat - Wave Emergency Plan. Biographical Sketch Acknowledgments Contents A Response Plan for a Heat - Wave 1 Recovery Plan for a Heat – Wave 6 Predicting Impacts 7 Bibliography/ References 11 (This page intentionally blank) A Response Plan for Heat - wave Many heat - wave plans for several communities from around the world have already been developed and these have been included in the bibliography for this report. 1 2 3 A heat - wave response plan is often a plan under a health emergency disaster plan and such a plan places an emphasis on helping people to protect themselves by seeking a cooler environment, with high quality medical assistance being extended to the community, especially the elderly. Although the precise procedures for presenting an alert warning about an impending heat - wave vary from country to country, France serves as a good example because of its experience with a recent devastating heat - wave. The biometrological advisory system in France presents a first forecast announcement to health professionals and civil service as well as social correspondents 4 to 7 days before the event. A further warning forecast is issued to professionals, the media and the public 1 – 3 days before the event and this is followed by a four – color biometrological advisory to the public one day before the event. The colors green, yellow, orange and red point to the intensity of the danger that can be associated with an impending event, including a heat - wave. 4 Thus, it is possible to predict a heat - wave emergency and to plan for recovery and response. Older people are often more seriously affected by heat - waves because they have lost the resilience to cope with extremes of temperature. The plan tries to provide a well coordinated response by public agencies to the heat wave and the agencies that are likely to be involved include hospitals and health services, education, Police, Fire Services and the Wildlife Service. The heat - wave plan is activated once an extreme weather event is certain and the authority to do this often rests with the Medical Controller or an equivalent office for a region. 5 Advising people about what to do and the preventive measures that are likely to be necessary are an important part of any heat - wave emergency plan. Such advice should be especially important for the more vulnerable groups and efforts should be made by health workers and other agency workers to ensure that the older people within their localities are made aware of the situation. 6 Extra help should be available from voluntary organisations and family support groups for the elderly and the disabled because such groups are likely to find heat - waves to be particularly bothersome. A Red warning to the previously mentioned community agencies suggests that all of the previously mentioned agencies should move to the highest state of readiness to cope with a heat - wave. When such a warning is issued, the ambulance services, hospitals and health workers will move to carry out their emergency readiness plans for coping with care for victims. Such plans can include cancellation of staff leave, reserving hospital beds for emergencies and providing extra vehicles for emergency duties. Work that is not urgent is expected to be downsized at a red alert level and routine transport is expected to be restricted to essential transport needs only. Police communications center staff is expected to be on full emergency readiness, with personnel being deployed to selected areas in readiness to help ambulance and fire services if a need arises. The director of education or schools is authorized to suspend school activities during a red alert and if disabled individuals are enrolled in a school then they are required to be supervised. Schools can also be used to provide shelter for those who have been caught in a heat - wave and are expected to provide water and emergency care. 7 The media plays an important role in presenting information to the public and because heat – waves can be predicted about ten days in advance, an emergency plan will also include public education campaigns through the media. As an example, heat related illness results in a variety of diseases that can include a swelling of the hand and feet in individuals, prickly heat, heat cramps, heat exhaustion and the potentially fatal heatstroke. The media can be very useful in presenting information about the previously mentioned heat related illness to everyone. The public should be reminded about what first aid procedures to resort to when an approaching heat - wave is expected and this should be done at a yellow or an orange alert stage. Cooperation of the media should be sought in this regard and the public is best served if the media presents informative advice about first aid procedures and preferred course of action to cope with a heat - wave. Various communities may have unique situations to face during a heat - wave and if the heat - wave is expected to be accompanied by a scarcity of water in the community, then cautionary advice about storing water and limiting its consumption should also be included in the heat - wave information that is to be passed on to the public. Heat - waves are not only a potential source of hazard for people, but they also present a danger of bushfires and a danger for animals. Thus, it may be necessary to advice people to be extra careful about not starting fires during a heat - wave emergency, such as by throwing cigarette butts indiscriminately. If possible, natural forest reservoirs and drinking places for animals should be refilled and if animals are kept as pets or are known to exist around habituated locations, then efforts can be made to provide reservoirs of drinking water and shelter for such animals. Key messages that can be included in media releases about tips and information that should be presented to the public for surviving a heat - wave should include the following: Heat related illness is preventable and what can be done in case of a heat related illness being recognised. Tips and advice for keeping cool during a heat - wave. Symptoms of heat related illness and what can be done if such symptoms present themselves. It is important to watch out for friends, neighbors and the elderly during a heat - wave. Water should be conserved during heat - waves and it is important to watch out for pets and to provide drinking water for animals at such times. Fire hazards are high during a heat - wave and the public should be presented with tips to ensure that no fires are started. Fluids containing caffeine, alcohol or large amounts of sugar are to be avoided during a heat - wave and cold showers are far better than electric fans which will not prevent heat illness if temperatures rise above 35 degrees centigrade. A number of prepared media releases that can be constantly improved on a constant basis can be prepared in communities in which heat - waves are more frequent and likely at certain times of the year. Recovery Plan for a Heat – Wave A heat – wave is only likely to be gradually diminished and this means that temperature will return to the expected normal for a season after several days. The biometrological system that serves a community will continue to monitor the situation and post new colored alert levels for each subsequent day. Depending on the perceived danger, the emergency plan will either be continued or cancelled. Unfortunately, lives that are lost in a heat – wave emergency are usually not covered for public compensation and this means that only informal community assistance is possible. If forest fires have occurred as a result of a heat wave, then only a gradual replanting of the forest with more suitable species is likely to provide for what was lost. Predicting Impacts One of the most important impacts of a heat - wave is increased mortality and those over the age of 65 are the most affected. Excess mortality rates in the range of about 10 % have been noted from the European experience. 8 However, increased mortality is by no means the only impact that may be felt and the danger from forest fires, a likelihood of scarcity of water during a prolonged heat - wave and an increase in criminal activity involving exploitation of the vulnerable as well as danger to wildlife cannot be ignored. Depending on the situation in various communities, forests may be particularly susceptible to fires and sources of water may dry up. Thus, each community will have to examine its particular situation to decide the likely impact that will be experienced because of a heat - wave. Statistical techniques for extrapolation can assist with predicting excess mortality in a community and an examination of the forests and water reservoirs for a community is likely to provide an indication of what other impact is likely apart from excess mortality. In conclusion, a heat - wave is an evolving emergency that is usually best handled by disseminating information to the public about how to best look after itself, putting emergency services on alert and by suspending nonessential activities. Fortunately for everyone, it is now possible to forecast a heat - wave several days in advance and this means that it is possible for a community to be prepared. However, depending on the particular situation of a community, other dangers may present themselves during a heat – wave. These dangers include a vastly enhanced danger of a forest fire or a scarcity of water. Specific heat - wave plans for regions and communities that are susceptible to the previously mentioned dangers will have to include measures to deal with added threats in case of a heat - wave emergency and debriefing of the experiences of various emergency services is likely to be useful for future planning. (This page intentionally blank) Bibliography/ References 1. Erickson, Paul E. Emergency Response Planning for Corporate and Municipal Managers, 2nd Edition. Elsevier Butterworth–Heinemann, 2006. 2. Farazmand, Ali. Handbook of Crisis and Emergency Management. Marcel Dekker Inc, 2001. 3. Haddow, George D. Introduction to Emergency Management, 2nd Edition. Elsevier Butterworth–Heinemann, 2006. 4. Kirch, W et al (Editors). Extreme Weather Events and Public Health Responses. Springer, 2005. 5. National Health Service, UK. Heat - wave Plan for England. National Health Service, UK, 2004. October 10, 2008. http://www.telford.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/41115A61-8B6D-4350-923C-861D2B5A37C6/0/HeatwavePlan.pdf 6. Queensland Government. Queensland Heat - wave Response Plan. Queensland Government, 2004. October 10, 2008. http://www.health.qld.gov.au/emergtrans/docs/emr/plans/heatwave_plan.pdf 7. South Staffordshire NHS. Major Incident Response and Recovery Plan. South Staffordshire NHS, 2006. October 10, 2008. http://www.southstaffordshirepct.nhs.uk/Aboutus/Board/111006/Enc16_Att1.pdf 8. World Health Organization. The health impacts of 2003 summer heat-waves Briefing note for the Delegations of the fifty-third session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe. World Health Organization, 2003. October 10, 2008. http://www.euro.who.int/document/Gch/HEAT-WAVES%20RC3.pdf Read More