Disaster preparedness Emergency preparedness is "a programme of long-term development activities whose goals are to strengthen the overall capacity and capability of a country to manage efficiently all types of emergency. It should bring about an orderly transition from relief through recovery, and back to sustained development" (1). The objective of disaster preparedness is to ensure that appropriate systems, procedures and resources are in place to provide prompt effective assistance to disaster victims, thus facilitating relief measures and rehabilitation of services. The individuals are responsible for maintaining their well-being. Community members, resources, organizations, and administration should be the cornerstone of an emergency preparedness programme. The reasons of community preparedness are: (a) Members of the community have the most to lose from being vulnerable to disasters and the most to gain from an effective and appropriate emergency preparedness programme; (b) Those who first respond to an emergency come from within the community. When transport and communications are disrupted, an external emergency response may not arrive for days; (c) Resources are most easily pooled at the community level and every community possesses capabilities. Failure to exploit these capabilities is poor resource management; (d) Sustained development is best achieved by allowing emergency-affected communities to design, manage, and implement internal and external assistance programme (2). Disaster preparedness is an on-going multisectoral activity. It forms an integral part of the national system responsible for developing plans and programmes for disaster management, prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response, rehabilitation and reconstruction. The system, known by a variety of names depending on the country, depends on the coordination of a variety of sectors to carry out the following tasks (5): 1. Evaluate the risk of the country or particular region to disaster; 2. Adopt standards and regulations; 3. Organize communication, information and warning systems; 4. Ensure coordination and response mechanisms; 5. Adopt measures to ensure that financial and other resources are available for increased readiness and can be mobilized in disaster situation; 6. Develop public education programmes; 7. Coordinate information sessions with news media; and 8. Organize disaster simulation excercises that test response mechanisms. The emergency emergency preparedness and management do not exist in a vacuum. To succeed, emergency programmes must be appropriate to their context. This context will vary from country to country and from community to community. Help me to write 5 mark answer on topic Disaster Preparedness from above copied paragraph of community medicine from book k park mbbs 3 rd year Arrange the answer properly Highlight words or sentence Add flow chart where needed neededgive the answer from above paragraph only And answer should me impressive to the examiner who is my hod of community who will cheak my answer sheet as I have to write it in my university exams to score full marks

reparedness development activities whose goals are to strengthen the Emergency preparedness is"a programme of long-term overall capacity and capability of a country to manage efficiently all types of emergency. It should bring about an orderly transition from relief through recovery, and back to sustained development" (5). The objective of disaster preparedness is to ensure that appropriate systems, procedures and resources are in place assistance to disaster victims. to provide prompt effective measures and rehabilitation of thus facilitating relief services. The individuals are responsible for maintaining their well-being. Community members, resources, organizations, cornerstone of an and administration should be the emergency preparedness programme. The reasons of community preparedness are : (a) Members of the community have the most to lose from being vuinerable to disasters and the most to gain Irom an effective and 942 DISASTER MANAGEMENT appropriate emergency preparedness programme:(b) Those who first respond to an emergency come from within the are communications community. When transport and arrive not disrupted, an external emergency response may for pooled at the days: (c) Resources most are easily possesses community level and every community capabilities is poor capabilities. Failure to exploit these Sustained development is best resource management ; (d) achieved by allowing emergency-affected design, manage, communities to external internal and and implement assistance programme (6). Disaster preparedness is an on-going multisectoral activity. lt forms an intearal part of the national system responsible for developing plans and programmes Tor disaster management, prevention, mitigation, preparedness, Tesponse, rehabilitation and reconstruction. The system, known by a variety of names depending on the country, depends on the coordination of a variety of sectors to cay out the followingtasks (4): 1. Evaluate the risk of the country or particular region to disaster; 2. Adopt standards and regulations ; 3, Organize communication, information and warning systems; 4. Ensure coordination and response mechanisms ; ensure that financial and other 5: Adopt measures to resources are available for increased readiness and can be mobilized in disaster situation; 6. Develop public education programmes ; 7. Coordinate information sessions with newS media ; and 8. Organize disaster simulation response mechanisms. excercises that test The emergency preparedness and emergency management do not exist in a vacuum. To succeed, emergency programmes must be appropriate to their context. This context will vary from country to country and from community to community. Policy development (6) The policy development isthe formal statement of a course of action" Policy is strategic in nature and performs the following functions : (a) establish long-term goals; (b) asign responsibilities for achieving goals; (c) establish recommended work practice; and (d) determine criteria for decision making. While policies tend to be "top-down" that is authorized by higher levels, implementation of the strategies that arise from a policy tendto be "bottom-up", with the higher levels assisting lowerlevels. The fom of emergency preparedness policy varies from country to country. Six sectors are requlred for response and recovery strategies. These sectors are communication, health, social welfare, police and security, search and rescue and transport. Personal protectionin differenttypes of emergencies(6) In addition to considering action by rescuers, thoucht must begiven to personal protection measures in different tupes of emergencies Making people aware of what ie expected of them in case of an emergenc difference tothe organized management eiforts. can reduce the precautions, the individua! assists the collectiye mate effects of an emergency. Byta larn all types of emergency: number of measures must be observedbyallpersoRs A Do not use thetelephone, except to callfor leave telephone lines free for the organization response. n Listen to the messages various media So asto be informed of development. andthe broadcast by radio Carry out the official instructions given over by loudspeaker. Keep a family emergency kit ready. theradint In all the different types of emergency, it issbetter: to be prepared than to get hurt: to get information so as to get organized: - to wait rather than act too hastilu. FLOODS What to do before-hand While town planning is a government individuals should find out about risks in the area responsiblity. where a dam should know the special signals (such a8 foghorns) used when a dam threatensto break. Smallloods can be foreseen by watching the water level after they live. For example, people who live in areas downstrean from heany rains and regularly listening to the weather forecasts Forecasting of floods or tidal waves is very diffcut. bt huricanes and cyclones often occur at the same time d veat, when particular vigilance must be exercised. They axe often announced several hours or days before they arrive During a flood Turn off the electricity to reduce the risk of electrocution. Protect people and property: - as soon as the flood begins, take any vulnerable people (children, the old, the sick, and the disabled) to an upper floor; - whenever possible, move personal belongings upstairs or go to raised shelters provided for use in floods. Beware of water contamination - if the taste, colour, or Smell of the water is suspicious, it is vital to use some means of purification. Evacuate danger zones as ordered by the loca authorities IS essential to comply strictly with the evacuation advice given. Authorities will recommeu that familiestake with themthe emergency suppliesthey have prepared. After a flood When a flood is over, it is important that people donot authorities, who return home until told to do so by thelocal will have ensured that buildings have not been undermined by water. From then on it is essential to: wait until the water is declared safe before drinking kitchen utensils; any that is untreated, sterilize or wash with boiling water all get rid of any food that has been in or nearr the clean and disinfect any roomthat has been dishes and flooded: wate. <br> including canned foods and sfrigerators and freezers: get rid of all cosmetics, etc.). consumables any food kept in (drinks, medicines, STORMS, HURRICANES AND TORNADOES before-hand w'hatto do Above all, itis of stormlable to strike their region so that they can take vital that people find out about the kinds cptimum preventive measures, and: choose a shelter in advance, before the emergency perfectly occurs -a suitable; cellar, a basement, or an alcove may be of the storm - fell dead trees, the prunestate tree branches, of the ground, regularly and check the the drainage state of around roofs, minimize the effects houses; take measures against flooding: - prepare a tamily emergency kit. During an emergency Tisten to the information and advice provided by the authorities. Do not go out in a car ora boat once the storm has been announced. Euacuate houses if the authorities request this, taking the family emergency package. lf possible, tie down any object liable to be blown away by the wind; if there is time, nail planks to the doors and shutters, open the windowsand doors slightly on the side opposite so as to reduce to the direction wind pressure from on which the house. the wind coming I caught outside in a storm, take refuge as quickly as possible in a shelter; if there is no shelter, lie down flat in a ditch. In a thunderstorm keep away from doors, windows, and electrical conductors, unplug electrical appliances and television the aerials. telephone. Do not use any electrical appliances or Anyone who isoutside should look for shelter ina building (never under a tree); if out in a boat, get back to the shore, keep away from fences and electric cables, kneel down rather than remain standing. After anemergency After the storm has subsided tollowtheinstructions given by the authorities; Stay indoors and do not go to the stricken areas; give the alert as quickiyas possible; givefirst aid to the injured: Sure the water is safe to drink and check the Contents of refrigerators andfreezers; checkthe exterior of dwellings and call for assistanceif here is a riskof fallina objects(tiles, guttering, etc.): EARTHQUAKES Whattodobefore-hand The movement the direc cause of. injuries; most are caused by falling of the ground in an earthquake is rarely DISASTER MANAGEMENT 943 objects followed or (several collapsing buildings. Many earthquakes are hours or even tremors, days later) by further progressively decreasing intensity. To eauce the destructive effects of earthauakes a number ot Pecautions are essential for people living in risk areds. usually of Duid Tisk areas. in accordance with urban planning regulafions tor Ensure that all electrícal and gas appliances houses. fixed. ogether with all pipes connected to then, are fírmly positions. Avoid storing heavy objects and materials in high u Tamily evacuation drills and ensure that the whole family knows what to do in case of an earthquake. - Prepare a family emergency kit. During an earthquake Keep calm, do no panic. People who are indoors should stay there but move to the central part of the building. suddenly. Keep away from the stairs, which might collapse People who are outside should stay there, keeping away trom electric buildings cables. to avoid collapsing walls and away from Anyone in a vehicle should park it, keeping away from bridges and buildings. After an earthquake Obey the authorities' instructions. Do not go back into damaged buildings since tremors may start again at any moment. Give first-aid to the injured and alert the emergency services in case of fire, burst pipes, etc. Do not go simply to look at the stricken areas: this will hamper rescue work. Keep emergency packages and a radio near at hand. home Make refrigerators sure is fit that to and water eat freezers). (in is case safe to of drink electricity and food cuts stored affecting at CLOUDS OF TOXIC FUMES What to do before-hand People in a risk area should: find out about evacuation plans and facilities: familiarize themselves with the alarm signals used in case of emergency; equip doors and windows with the tightest possible fastenings: prepare family emergency kits. During an emergency Do not services. use the telephone; leave lines free for rescue Listen to the messages given by radio and other media, Carry out the instructions transmitted by loudspeaker. radio or Close doors and windows. Stop up air intakes. Seal any cracks or gaps around windows and doors with adhesive tape.944 DISASTER MANAGEMENT Organize a reserve baths, etc.). of water (by filling wash basins, Turn off ventilators and air conditioners. After an emergency instructions and do not Comply withthe authorities' out until there is no longer any risk. Carry out necessary decontamination measures. Now use this paragraph for disaster preparedness answer