Emergency Preparedness
Community Emergency Preparedness and Response Paper
University of Phoenix
NUR/ 408
Kimberly Oatman
Community Emergency Preparedness and Response Paper
Risk for disasters is a part of life; emergency situations occur more frequently than many people believe. A wise person plans for the worse, and hopes for the best. After a disaster, how well a community can recover will depend largely on how well they prepared in advance. Risk management includes identifying any potential risks to a community and proactively planning to minimize the threat. Proactive organization of resources and people to respond to emergencies can mean the difference between a community’s ability to regroup and recover, and the loss of life. To better understand preparation for emergencies, we will examine and summarize an emergency event and the actions of health care workers in response to specific key characters’ health concerns. Next, we will identify other types of public health agencies (local, state, and national) that could be called upon to respond to this type of emergency and discuss how public health care teams can enhance personal preparedness for this type of emergency and similar community emergencies. Last, we will offer suggestions to enhance personal preparedness for this type of emergency and similar community emergencies. Summary of Events and People The Neighborhood is a town with a population of 64,200 people, one-third of which are elderly. It is situated along a river and located west of a forest. For the last five days, a wildfire has been burning out of control in the forest and is nearing the town. This fire, spread by an earlier-than-expected windy season, is destroying numerous acres of land. Firefighters are trying to control this wildfire in the forest, as health care workers are working to help patients with restrictive and obstructive lung disease, experiencing difficulty with breathing. City
University of Phoenix
NUR/ 408
Kimberly Oatman
Community Emergency Preparedness and Response Paper
Risk for disasters is a part of life; emergency situations occur more frequently than many people believe. A wise person plans for the worse, and hopes for the best. After a disaster, how well a community can recover will depend largely on how well they prepared in advance. Risk management includes identifying any potential risks to a community and proactively planning to minimize the threat. Proactive organization of resources and people to respond to emergencies can mean the difference between a community’s ability to regroup and recover, and the loss of life. To better understand preparation for emergencies, we will examine and summarize an emergency event and the actions of health care workers in response to specific key characters’ health concerns. Next, we will identify other types of public health agencies (local, state, and national) that could be called upon to respond to this type of emergency and discuss how public health care teams can enhance personal preparedness for this type of emergency and similar community emergencies. Last, we will offer suggestions to enhance personal preparedness for this type of emergency and similar community emergencies. Summary of Events and People The Neighborhood is a town with a population of 64,200 people, one-third of which are elderly. It is situated along a river and located west of a forest. For the last five days, a wildfire has been burning out of control in the forest and is nearing the town. This fire, spread by an earlier-than-expected windy season, is destroying numerous acres of land. Firefighters are trying to control this wildfire in the forest, as health care workers are working to help patients with restrictive and obstructive lung disease, experiencing difficulty with breathing. City
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