Disaster management
Disaster management can be defined as the organization and management of resources and responsibilities for dealing with all humanitarian aspects of emergencies, in particular preparedness, response and recovery in order to lessen the impact of disasters.
The need to address disaster management
Disasters are defined as a serious disruption of the functioning of a community or a society. They involve widespread human, material, economic or environmental impacts, which exceed the ability of the affected community or society to cope using its own resources
At its 16th General Meeting, WCPT adopted a policy statement on disaster management. WCPT has put together a range of resources to support this policy. These outline the role of the physical therapist in disaster prevention, preparedness, relief and recovery. They provide guidance for member organisations in their efforts to develop their own roles and prepare for efficientresponses when natural disasters or other major crises strike.
The aim is to ensure that physical therapists are more directly engaged at an organisational level as well as on the ground, so that they can provide services to affected individuals and communities, save lives, reduce the risk of long-term injury and improve outcomes for survivors.
Types of disasters
There is no country that is immune from disaster, though vulnerability to disaster varies. There are four main types of disaster.
Natural disasters. These disasters include floods, hurricanes, earthquakes and volcano eruptions that can have immediate impacts on human health, as well as secondary impacts causing further death and suffering from floods causing landslides, earthquakes resulting in fires, tsunamis causing widespread flooding and typhoons sinking ferries
Environmental emergencies. These emergencies include technological or industrial accidents, usually involving hazardous material, and occur where these materials are produced, used or transported. Large
The need to address disaster management
Disasters are defined as a serious disruption of the functioning of a community or a society. They involve widespread human, material, economic or environmental impacts, which exceed the ability of the affected community or society to cope using its own resources
At its 16th General Meeting, WCPT adopted a policy statement on disaster management. WCPT has put together a range of resources to support this policy. These outline the role of the physical therapist in disaster prevention, preparedness, relief and recovery. They provide guidance for member organisations in their efforts to develop their own roles and prepare for efficientresponses when natural disasters or other major crises strike.
The aim is to ensure that physical therapists are more directly engaged at an organisational level as well as on the ground, so that they can provide services to affected individuals and communities, save lives, reduce the risk of long-term injury and improve outcomes for survivors.
Types of disasters
There is no country that is immune from disaster, though vulnerability to disaster varies. There are four main types of disaster.
Natural disasters. These disasters include floods, hurricanes, earthquakes and volcano eruptions that can have immediate impacts on human health, as well as secondary impacts causing further death and suffering from floods causing landslides, earthquakes resulting in fires, tsunamis causing widespread flooding and typhoons sinking ferries
Environmental emergencies. These emergencies include technological or industrial accidents, usually involving hazardous material, and occur where these materials are produced, used or transported. Large