Disaster defined

The analysis of accidents and disasters in real systems makes it clear that it is not sufficient to consider error and its effects purely from the perspective of individual human failures. Major accidents are almost always the result of multiple errors or combinations of single errors with preexisting vulnerable conditions (Wagenaar et al., 1990). Another perspective from which to define errors is in terms of when in the system life cycle they occur. In the following discussion of the definitions of human error, the initial focus will be from the engineering and the accident analysis perspective. More detailed consideration of the definitions of error will be deferred to later sections in this chapter where the various error models will be described in detail (see Sections 5 and 6). 

Hazard is commonly defined as the potential to cause harm . A hazard can be defined as aproperty or situation that in particular circumstances could lead to harm (Smith et al., 1988). Risk is a more difficult concept to define. The term risk is used in everyday language to mean chance of disaster . When used in the process of risk assessment it has specific definitions, the most commonly accepted being The combination of the probability, or frequency, of occurrence of a defined hazard and the magnitude of the consequences of the occurrence (Smith et al., 1988). 

The DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for PTSD (cf. Table 5.10) requires that the patient has been exposed to a traumatic stressor. In this context, the concept of traumatic stress is specifically defined as an event involving actual or threatened death or serious injury, or a threat to physical integrity. Such traumatic events include sexual abuse (e.g., rape, molestation), life-threatening accidents, interpersonal violence, natural disasters, and combat. 

That was a reactive chemical incident, fortunately a minor one. Dow defines a reactive chemical incident as a chemical reaction which produces the conditions for or causes an uncontrolled or dangerous energy release which may result in or has the potential for resulting in injury or property damage. Some of the worst disasters in chemical history have resulted from uncontrolled chemical reactions. 

The current good manufacturing practices (GMP) state that Laboratory records shall include complete data derived from all tests necessary to assure compliance with established specifications and standards [5]. This includes all electronic and hard copies of raw data, laboratory notebooks, and/or worksheets and reports. Additionally, the regulations require that records shall be readily available for authorized inspection [6]. Consequently, the organization must have a well-defined audit trail for the generation, storage, and retrieval of reports and raw data. It must also be shown that there is adequate document management and security of all raw data and reports in terms of both disaster recovery and prevention of falsification of results. 

A scoop in this area would be some bad news, I am afraid , preferably some kind of disaster I associate it with leakage from a tank, or a lot of dead fish in the Vistula (a river) - this is news that deserves to be placed on the first pages (DZ-reporter). The local/regional reporter from Glos Pomorza defines a scoop as, for example, if it were revealed that there was some chemical waste from the West stored illegally somewhere close by ... 

Epidemiology, as classically defined, is the quantitative study of the distributions and determinants of health-related events in human populations (Gordis, 2004 see chapter 15 for further discussion). Disaster epidemiology is the measurement of the adverse health effects of natural and human-generated disasters and... 

WHEREAS, the lack of a defined scope of practice for student nurses during disaster relief operations is a repeated problem needing attention and is likely to reoccur and... 

RESOLVED, that the NSNA encourage its constituents to work collaboratively with their local and state disaster response and healthcare agencies to develop a taskforce that will define the scope of practice of student nurses in disaster settings and develop a protocol for coordinating the collection and distribution of donations to be sent to disaster areas and be it further... 

Changes in government structure in disaster response and in the public health system may create opportunities for nurses to act in new, yet-to-be defined roles. Nurses must actively seek out positions of leadership in health policy and disaster management. 

This chapter explores the issues and challenges related to defining the role of nurses in a disaster situation. Disaster nursing leadership mandates that nurses have a sound knowledge base in critical management areas, as well as in health policy and public health. The chapter presents suggestions for educational needs, research initiatives to further the science of disaster nursing, and political advocacy issues. Nurses must capitalize on... 

Major disasters or emergencies as defined under the Stafford Act. 

For the purposes of activating the National Response Plan, the federal government defines a disaster condition as follows ... 

What will be the roles and functions of nurses in disaster response Nurses need to define what their roles will... 

The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations also defines a third level of crisis—a catastrophe. A catastrophe is considered a disaster in which the community and hospital are overwhelmed and isolated for 3 or more days. This is exemplified by the Sumatra tsunami in 2004 and by Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans in 2005 (Berger, 2006). For our purposes, this category will be considered a disaster. 

Effective disaster management requires system capacities, a competent staff, and a clearly defined, executable, and practiced disaster response plan. 

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