The Role of the Major Public Health Personnel - Research Paper Example

Franklin County Disaster The role of the major public health personnel The health personnel and public nurses have many roles to play in case of disasters. In the case of the Franklin County Disaster, they were keen on issues that had the possibility of lasting for a long time or affecting the society in the near future. Health personnel were there to monitor the issues that the community required, appraise the entire wherewithal, supply the members with all the information that they considered dependable as well as synchronize all activities that were related to people’s health (Beach, 2010). These local health recruits needed to be certified experts. This was significant because they had to be coordinated and encouraging to tackle all cultural, social, health and material issues emerging in the community every now and then. The health workers in the local vicinity synchronized transportation, communal services, public utilities, unpaid helpers, salvage works as well as support from outside members. The public health nurse had roles to play too. They were to communicate efficiently working in partnership with the whole of health units and other groups so as, to systematize resources that were essential throughout the disaster. In the simulation, they went door to door carrying out interviews of the community members. From these interviews, it was possible to obtain safety status as well as the health of the community. During the disaster, there are several people who also participated in ensuring that the rescue mission was success. For instance, the incident commander on the ground ensured that all the nurses were posted in the right position. At the same time, they saw to it that the head count of all the victims were in order. The logistic chief also played a part during the disaster. It was his mandate to ensure that all the required materials and machinery were in order. This step was taken to determine the availability of food, shelter and medicine for the victims. The financial chief on the ground made things easy for the victims and doctors in ensuring that he okayed the government ad the banks to avail money that was needed to be used. The public health director of the region was the overall overseer of the entire rescue mission. He authorized everything that took place during the rescue. The chain of command In order to react well to a disaster, an effectual succession of command is necessary. It is there to facilitate knowledge and coordination of groups of people as well as individuals caught up in the emigration and relief efforts. In the simulation, the chain of commands offered caution messages, temporary relief as well as switch to long recovery (Carrier, 2002). These series of command included, operations segment, planning section, logistic sector as well as administration division. Operation section This sector was responsible for organizing activities at the area of disaster so as to acquire certain goals such as, familiarizing residents with the dreaded disaster. This they did by communicating with people who inhibited the area. They were also responsible of trying to save as much lives as they would. The operational sector is answerable to the planning department. Planning sector In this division, the responsibility was to gather, evacuate and evaluate premeditated information that was significant to the immediate reaction of the disaster. It was to keep record of the situation at that particular time, predict future conditions and tribulations as well as keeping trail of the resources (Beach, 2010). This section ensured that personnel and nurses were situated in the right places and with the required equipments. The planning department cannot conduct any of their operation without being mandated by the logistic sector. Logistics sector This segment had the accountability of acquiring and providing for the requirements of disaster aid. These needs included communication, food services, transportation, and facilities. The logistic section was subdivided into smaller units. The first one was the supply unit that controlled stored and provided resources during the disaster response. Second was the facilities units that located, sustain and disband disaster response facilities. Ground support was the third unit whose responsibilities included providing transportation for health workers and the affected. Fourth was the communication unit, which made sure that water and food reached to all the event command locations (Beach, 2010). Fifth was the medical unit which held one of the most significant role. They were to provide the nurses and health personnel with medicines and medical care. Lastly was the finance unit. It was accountable for cases that needed settlement of monetary needs. The logistic sector is obligated to ensuring that all the operations are conducted in the best way possible since all the heads of departments manage it. The resources available to the community health nurse According to Emergency Management Agency for Franklin County (Ohio) (1996), the government is aware of the dangers related to disasters. Therefore, it has come up with strategies that would help the individuals in the society cope with the disaster in case there are no nurses around. There has been an establishment of disaster management teams in the society who would ensure that people are rescued early. They are also responsible of informing the authorities of the issues taking place on the ground (Carrier, 2002). The nurses who are on the ground can also have access to first aid kits and the necessary medications for the injured victims. There are emergency communication tools, which can be used for communication to the rescue team in case the telephones go down. The government has also availed environmental specialists who are mandated to notifying people of any occurrence of natural disasters on time for evacuation. They are assisted by the interpreters who will explain to the in layman’s language of the foreseen incidence. There are also regions that have been marked for temporary shelters for victims who might not be evacuated on time. There are companies that have been obligated to provide food and water for the victims who are in these shelters.  Actions taken by the community health nurse In case of an emergency encounter during the door-to-door interview, the community health nurse examines the situation of the patient so as to find out the urgency of treatment. Then the nurse thinks of a fast and safe way to get back to the hospital, evaluates the kind of illness to know if it is contagious as it can cause more damage by infecting the nurse or the family members (Beach, 2010). As much as the nurses should be having other obligations at home, they should be able to balance their personal responsibilities and those of the patients. Before reaching the patient to the hospital, they apply their first aid knowledge to prolong the patient’s chance of survival and this is important because they may find their resources and supplies inadequate. Actions taken by the community health nurse to help the people After encountering a grave disaster, it is normal for the victims to be mentally disturbed, have immense fear and live traumatized for a very long time. This was the case for majority of the victims that were interviewed. This required attention for the nurses to restore a person’s sanity. Community health serves are part of the team that is responsible of such assistance. In this case of the Franklin disaster, nurses interviewed people and with the responses they received they knew what ailed the victims. The nurses had to come up with posttraumatic stress disorder and care for the victims. The first issue they had to deal with the victims who were at the evacuation centre (Carrier, 2002). The victims at this centre were traumatized for not having the lives they were used to. There were victims who were used to living in solitude in their homes but they were expected to live with people in large community. The nurses also had to deal with the dietary support for the victims. This is because most of the victims controlled the type of food they ate. It was difficult for the nurses to convince the victims to eat the same diet for a long period. These victims had to undergo counseling in order to cope up with the situation. The counseling helped them to cope with the loss of lives and properties as their lives changed after the disaster. What could have been done better The nurses would have done issues differently from the manner they conducted themselves. They should have ensured that the victims that were evacuated lived in a better state. The victims should have been given the type of diet they were used to in order for them to feel comfortable. How other nursing personnel could be prepared  Nobody is in a position to fathom the world and all the occurrences about to happen. This is why it is significant for people to be prepared at all times to tackle any kind of emergency that would befall our lands. This is to lessen the unpleasant impact of the occurrences by dynamically responding to secure the individuals safety, health, reliability as well as the physical configurations (Beach, 2010). The government has initiated training on disaster preparedness and management for the nurses and health practitioners in all the regions. This training is normally offered in hospitals, schools and government institutions. At the same time, all the health providers are mandated to know how to deal with disasters. For triumphant emergency preparedness, it should be scrutinized either unreservedly or unambiguously from a methodical outlook. This involves indulgent of the positive goals expected from the emergency response, the community’s resources as a structure and efficient relations of the diverse units in within the arrangement. For health emergencies, more hospital equipments ought to be bought and fully functioning. Medicines are also most significant and thus more supplies should be made and stored hoping they would be enough for all victims to use as treatment. It is imperative to think of various kinds of natural disasters such as hurricanes, earthquakes and floods so as to be aware of the start point of preventing the disasters. There are disasters that share identical characteristics and thus have comparable demands. Once figured out, it is then easy to handle, as emergency planning will cover two tragedies at a go giving room and time for preparing for a different natural disaster (Beach, 2010). In cases of floods, people living in low lands or valleys need to be evacuated immediately, more life boats ought to be made available and properties and buildings should have a strong foundation. It is always good to prepare for emergencies rather than tackle them when they are at hand. References Beach, M. (2010). Disaster preparedness and management. Philadelphia, PA: F.A. Davis Co. Carrier, J. T. (2002). A black Christmas: Orient Coal Mine disaster ; Franklin County, Illinois December 21, 1951. Greenfield, Ind: E.U.L.A. Publications. Emergency Management Agency for Franklin County (Ohio). (1996). Hazard analysis for Franklin County. Columbus, Ohio: The Agency. Interagency Hazard Mitigation Team strategy report covering the counties of Addison, Chittenden, Franklin, Grand Isle, Orange and Windsor. (1998). S.l: s.n.. Nebraska Emergency Management Agency,, & Franklin County Emergency Management Agency (Neb.),. (2012). Franklin County, Nebraska, local emergency operations plan. Read More