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At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed2002

Tropical Storm Allison rapid needs assessment--Houston, Texas, June 2001.

On June 5, 2001, Tropical Storm Allison made landfall on Galveston Island, Texas. During the next 2 days, the system soaked much of southeast Texas and south-central Louisiana with more than 10 inches of rain as it moved slowly northward. On June 7, the storm made a clockwise loop back to the southwest, bringing even more rain to already drenched areas. The record rainfall caused billions of dollars in flood-related damage and approximately 25 deaths and led to a presidential disaster, declaration covering 31 Texas counties (Figure 1) and 28 Louisiana parishes. Harris County, Texas (2000 population: 3,400,578), center of the Houston metropolitan area, was among the hardest hit with some areas receiving up to 37 inches of rain in 24 hours (Figure 2). To evaluate the community's immediate public health needs, the City of Houston Department of Health and Human Services (HDHHS) conducted a rapid needs assessment in the areas most affected by flooding. This report summarizes assessment results, which identified increased illness in persons living in flooded homes, suggesting a need for rapid resolution of flood-related damage and the possibility that residents should seek temporary housing during clean-up and repair. The findings underscore the usefulness of rapid needs assessment as a tool to minimize misinformation, identify actual health threats, and ensure delivery of resources to those with the greatest and most immediate need.

Disasters↗
PubMed2002

Association of psychological distress with psychological factors in rescue workers within two months after a major earthquake.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Studies of the health of rescue workers after a major disaster have frequently focused on posttraumatic stress disorder. This study aimed to determine the characteristics of psychological distress and its psychosocial predictors in rescue workers within a 2-month period after an earthquake that struck central Taiwan on September 21, 1999. METHODS: A total of 1,104 rescue workers serving in the earthquake were enrolled in the study. Psychological distress was measured using the Brief Symptom Rating Scale (BSRS), personality traits using the Maudsley Personality Inventory (MPI), and family function using APGAR (adaptability, partnership, growth, affection, and resolve) indexes. These measurements were performed within 2 months of the earthquake. Univariate and multivariate analyses were applied to examine the association between psychological distress and various psychosocial factors. RESULTS: BSRS assessment revealed severe psychological distress in 137 (16.4%) subjects. The most common symptom dimension was phobic-anxiety (18.7%), followed by hostility (17.6%), obsessive-compulsive symptoms (16.2%), depression (14.9%), paranoid ideation (14.2%), interpersonal sensitivity (13.3%), psychoticism (11.9%), anxiety (10.8%), additional symptoms (8.5%), and somatization (6.2%). Pre-disaster major life events (R2 = 0.03) and most of the factor scores of the MPI (including moodiness, anxiety-prone, outgoing, conscientiousness, activity, and sociability factors; R2 = 0.25) predicted the severity of psychological distress. Time of arrival at the scene, previous exposure, age, and family function had no or trivial predictive power. CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicated that prevalence of general psychological distress is high among rescue workers in the first 2 months after a major earthquake. Personality traits and pre-disaster life adjustment had a dominant predictive power for psychological distress. Immediate psychosocial intervention should be considered to ameliorate the distress related to disaster rescue work.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

[Awareness of the risk of air bag-associated injuries essential].

Restraint systems, such as air bags and seat belts with pretensioners, reduce effectively the risk of serious injuries of car occupants. However, this equipment may have some adverse effects. In a frontal air bag deployment the cushion expands with a speed of about 200 km/h towards the driver. A person within the expansion zone, i.e. within 20 centimetres from the steering wheel hub, may experience a considerable injury risk. Short people, pregnant women and people "out of normal position" are especially at risk, as well as paramedics exposed for accidentally deployed air bags during rescue work. The gas generator in the air bag produces nitrogen in a chemical process. However, small amounts of NaOH (caustic soda) may leak out of the gas generator and may contaminate eyes and wounds and cause injuries and delay healing. The air bag gases may provoke an asthmatic attack in sensible individuals and a few will experience a hearing loss, often in the range of 4,000-6,000 Hz, from the sound impulse that may reach a level of 170 dB. Correct handling, based on a familiarity of the effects and side effects of modern restraint systems, would minimise the risk of adverse effects of this safety equipment.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed2002

Ready or not, disasters happen.

The New York State Nurses Association was--as was the entire country--plunged into disaster response mode by 9:30 am on the morning of Tuesday, September 11, 2001. Although the association had engaged in limited disaster planning prior to this event, that planning was in terms of an internal disaster such as a fire in our headquarters building. There was no plan for responding to a community catastrophe of the magnitude being experienced. The association faced unique challenges--including the fact that our New York City offices are located near ground zero--but was fortunate in having expert resource persons on staff and available to organize a response. Since September, the association has applied the lessons learned from this experience and developed a comprehensive disaster plan for the future. The purpose of this article is to share those lessons learned with the community of nursing associations in the hope that others can use the information to build effective disaster plans of their own.

American Nurses' Association↗
PubMed2002

The American Psychiatric Nurses Association responds to the September 11 tragedy.

This article describes how the American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA) responded to the September 11 tragedy, as an organization. Also included are anecdotes from APNA members who participated individually in the aftermath of this tragedy. Because such a traumatic event can result in psychiatric disorders, a brief synopsis of these disorders is included. The economic effects of emotional difficulties for our nation are explored, especially those related to the most serious disorder resulting from such a traumatic event, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Strategies that APNA is focusing on for the future, as a result of this tragedy, are presented.

Disaster Planning↗
PubMed2004

Rapid community health and needs assessments after Hurricanes Isabel and Charley--North Carolina, 2003-2004.

On September 18, 2003, Hurricane Isabel, a Category 2 hurricane, made landfall on the Outer Banks of North Carolina (NC). The storm, moving to the northeast with winds exceeding 100 mph, caused extensive power outages and structural damage in northeastern NC and southern Virginia. In NC, approximately 762,000 residents lost power during the storm, and the shelter population peaked at an estimated 16,600 persons. Six storm-related fatalities were reported, and 26 eastern NC counties were included in a federal disaster area declaration. The North Carolina Division of Public Health (NCDPH) activated the Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response (PHPR) and seven Public Health Regional Surveillance Teams (PHRSTs) to conduct a rapid community health and needs assessment for the affected population. CDC deployed staff to provide technical support to NCDPH. The assessment determined that the majority of public health emergencies resulted from electric power outages, which affected access to food, water, and medical care. Data and recommendations were provided immediately to local and state emergency responders, who used the information to direct Hurricane Isabel recovery efforts and also to improve the assessment, which was next deployed in August 2004 with Hurricane Charley.

Disasters↗
PubMed2005

Air Force expeditionary medical support unit at the Houston floods: use of a military model in civilian disaster response.

From June 6 to 10, 2001, Tropical Storm Allison delivered 40 inches of rain to the city of Houston, Texas. Nine of the city's hospitals were closed or severely curtailed services as a result of the flooding. All area hospitals were full to capacity, intensive care unit beds were unavailable, and patient wait times for emergency department care were 18 to 21 hours. Emergency department and intensive care unit congestion placed the entire emergency medical system of Houston in jeopardy. In response to a Federal Emergency Management Agency request, the Air Force deployed a 25-bed expeditionary medical support field hospital to Houston on June 13, 2001. The expeditionary medical support unit treated its first patient only 3.5 hours after arrival and was fully operational 8 hours later. During its 11-day stay, the facility treated 1,036 patients, including 312 ambulance arrivals, 48 inpatients, and 33 intensive care unit patients, and performed 33 dental procedures and 16 operations.

Disaster Planning↗
PubMed2005

Hurricane Katrina response and guidance for health-care providers, relief workers, and shelter operators.

Hurricane Katrina struck the coastal areas of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi on August 29, 2005, causing substantial numbers of deaths among both humans and animals, infrastructure damage, and flooding. Affected areas continue to experience shortages of essential services, including electricity, potable water, food, and fuel; damage to health-care and public health systems; and disrupted communications. CDC/ATSDR, local and state health departments, other federal agencies, and other partners are supporting public health and medical-care functions for persons in affected areas and those displaced as a result of the hurricane.

Disaster Planning↗