Disaster management

Disaster Management can be defined as the preparedness, response and recovery methods in order to lessen the impact of disasters. A disaster disrupts the normal function of the society to the extent that it cannot function without outside help. Disasters can be classified as natural, technological or complex emergencies. Let's take a look at the natural disasters in Kerala. The entire nation came forward to lend a helping hand to the Kerala flood victims. Central Government, State Governments, Union Territories, Multi National Corporations, Big Business Houses, Celebrities, Sportsmen and women, schools, colleges, and common people have contributed to Kerala’s Chief Minister’s Relief Fund generously. Apart from these generous donations, it was the local community coming together for rescue missions and volunteering in relief camps that had an enormous impact on the return to normalcy. Awareness and preparedness are the most effective prevention and mitigation measures against all disasters.

Prevention Of Natural disasters

Floods and Landslides being the most common natural disaster in the state, prevention methods of floods and landslides can be categorized into three.

·   Vegetative measures: Preserving vegetation, grasses and trees can minimize the amount of water infiltrating into the soil, slow the erosion caused by surface-water flow, and remove water from the soil.
·    Structural Measures: Retaining and Diverting water using dams, floodplains, levees etc Constructing piles & retention walls Improving surface & subsurface drainage Rock-fall protection
·   Management measures: Integrated river basin approach Public awareness, participation and insurance Land use zoning & risk assessment Flood forecasting and warning systems 

Disaster management system within state:

Every state in the country has a state disaster management authority (SDMA) that is responsible for activities within the state under the Chairmanship of the Chief Minister of the respective states. All SDMAs have state committees and District DMAs under their leadership. Kerala State Disaster Management Authority(KSDMA) is one of the 29 SDMAs of India.

State Control Rooms

The control rooms of the two above-mentioned departments function under the administrative control of the respective Department Heads, they being Commissioner Land Revenue and the Director-General of Police, respectively.

The Control Rooms of Revenue and Home function 24 hours. The Department of Fisheries operates a 24 x 7 control room in their headquarters and all districts to coordinate during fishing vessel accidents that frequently occur in the sea.

District Emergency Operations Centers

Rainfall: Several states in India witness very heavy rainfall during the months from June to September. Most vigil actions are to be taken and sustained till warning is withdrawn, in the districts predicted to be affected by the rainfall.

Warning Systems: Initially, Emergency time functions are activated by SEOC and DEOC. All necessary forces are pre-positioned as per the direction of the state incident commander. The defense wing along with the central force is ready to move into any location in the state.

Landslides

Landslides are caused by rain, earthquakes or other factors that make the slope unstable. They are of four types - fall and toppling, slides (rotational and translational), flows and creep.

Warning systems: Indian Meteorological Department(IMD) issues 'Very Heavy Rainfall Warning' when two days of cumulative rainfall exceeds 8 cm in a rain station, landslide warning is issued to the respective districts.

Flood

Floods are the most common natural disaster in India. Several states have been affected over the years by heavy floods. Recent examples include 2015 Gujarat floods and 2018-19 Kerala floods.

Warning systems: Initially, Emergency time functions are activated by SEOC and DEOC. All necessary forces are pre-positioned as per the direction of the state incident commander. And the defence wing along with the central force is ready to move into any location in the state.

BEFORE FLOODING OCCURS

· Identify the nearest shelter and know the route. Prepare an emergency kit which includes:
· First aid kit with extra medication for snakebite and diarrhea
· Strong ropes for tying things
· Radio, torch and spare batteries
· Stocks of fresh water, dry food, salt and sugar, kerosene, candles and matchboxes
· Water-proof bags
· Umbrellas and bamboo sticks(for protection from snakes)
· If in rural areas, identify areas which are higher than your surroundings or build an earthen mound to locate cattle etc in the event of a flood

DURING FLOODS

· Drink boiled water
· Don’t eat heavy meals
· Use raw tea, rice water, tender coconut water etc during diarrhea
· Do not let children remain on empty stomach
· Use bleaching powder and lime to disinfect surroundings
· Avoid entering floodwaters
· Do not eat food that got wet in floodwaters
· Use halogen tablets to purify water before drinking it
· Be careful of snakes

Man made disasters

Disasters that are caused by human beings are called man-made disasters. Examples are nuclear bombs, transportation accidents etc. The most serious threats occur due to nuclear, biological and chemical warfare which are collectively known as WMD or Weapons of Mass Destruction.

· Nuclear Weapons: Nuclear weapons are the most dangerous weapons on earth. One can destroy a whole city, potentially killing millions, and jeopardizing the natural environment and lives of future generations through its long-term catastrophic effects.

· Biological Weapons: Biological weapons disseminate disease-causing organisms or toxins to harm or kill humans, animals or plants. They can be deadly and highly contagious. Diseases caused by such weapons would not confine themselves to national borders and could spread rapidly around the world.

· Chemical Weapons: The modern use of chemical weapons began with World War I, when both sides to the conflict used poisonous gas to inflict agonizing suffering and to cause significant battlefield casualties. 

Cyclones: Cyclones account for 30% of the total occurrences of disasters in India. It is defined as a region of low atmospheric pressure surrounded by high atmospheric pressure resulting in swirling atmospheric disturbance and accompanied by powerful winds. The Odissa super-cyclone in 1999 had a wind speed of 260-300 km/hr and killed thousands.

 Relief camps                                                                                                                           

Setting up and managing camps is one of the most challenging tasks when a disaster occurs. They are indispensable and require proper planning and execution. The process is dynamic in nature. The camps need to be constructed such that the physical, emotional, cultural and social well-being of the camp inhabitants are ensured.

Standard Operating Procedure for Relief Camps

Location

              · The site should not be vulnerable to natural disasters like landslides, earthquakes etc
              ·  Preferably accessible by motor vehicles

Shelter

              · Inhabitants should be protected from adverse effects of the climate
              · Sufficient warmth, air, security and privacy must be maintained

General administration of the camp

               · A camp officer should co-ordinate and supervise the day-to-day activities in the camp
               · Any government officer can be asked to assist depending upon the requirements in the camp.

Management of the camp

               · Treat every inhabitant of the camp with dignity and respect
               ·  Make effective arrangement for distribution of food and aid to the people in the camp
              · Special care should be taken to ensure that vulnerable people like disabled, elderly, pregnant women and children get adequate aid and supply of food and other facilities.
               · Voluntary Organizations and leading citizens may be encouraged and involve in management of relief camp

Basic Facilities

                · Lighting Arrangement and Generator Set

                · Water Facilities
                · Sanitation
                ·  Food and clothing

A First-Line Treatment Centre(FLTC) is a facility where the most mildly symptomatic or asymptomatic COVID patients are treated. 70-80% of COVID patients are asymptomatic and only exhibit mild symptoms. 

A.RECEPTION AREA

• Most patients who reach the First Line treatment centers are covid 19 cases who have mild symptoms. With minimum but efficient use of PPE, triage the patient into stable & unstable.
• All patients should sanitize their hands & wear masks before entry.
• If a patient is a direct entry case and not referred through the Telehealth Helpline Unit, then a screening questionnaire needs to be applied for initial categorization and admission to FLTC.

B.COVID CARE AREA

• The isolation area should have 3 entry/exit points 
•  STAFF ENTRY
• STAFF EXIT
• PATIENT ENTRY/EXIT
• The area is completely sealed shut at all other places to ensure that no unauthorized entry or exit takes place

C. ISOLATION AREA:

• The isolation patient area should have
• 1.Nurse Station
• 2.Sample Collection Area
• 3.Utility Area (Dining Area and Recreational Area)
• 4.Cots should be kept at least 2-3 m apart
• 5.Separate personal properties to be given to each patient

D. DONNING AREA

• This is for the staff to wear personal protective equipment (PPE). This space should have one stable and stool
•  Hand washing area
•  Disinfectant dispenser(preferably with Lysol, in 10% *dilution)
•  Hand sanitizer dispenser (containing 60-80% Isopropyl alcohol)
•  Micropore tape dispenser
•  Hanging Mirror (for checking proper positioning of PPE)

   
E. DOFFING AREA :

• This is for the staff to safely remove PPE to safely dispose of them later.
•  Hanging Mirror (for checking proper positioning of PPE)
• Stool
• Laundry Bins
• Disinfectant spraying units
• Hand washing area
• Wash rooms (For staff to take bath after doffing. Each wash room to be disinfected after every use.)      

   Data management within an FLTC:

Data Management may be done through any hospital/patient management software. For instance, FLTC's in Ernakulam district of Kerala uses CARE as patient management tool. The data of each patient is recorded in the system at the time of admission. Subsequently, each consultation or daily round detail is also added into the system for the record. Any Sample testing that takes place in a FLTC is also routed through the CARE system. If the patient is shifted from the facility to another hospital or another healthcare facility, the patient details are transferred to the new facility through the internet using the CARE System. The administrator of the facility is in-charge of entering data into the CARE system. This person must be trained in the use of the CARE system for the management of patients, sample and inventory. The training material to using CARE system is available at Care System 101

• 1Doctor on call available 24 hours 6 Nurses ( 2 nurses working in 8 hrs shifts)
• 6 Cleaning Staff (2 Staff working in 8 hrs shifts)
• 3 Data Entry personnel ( 1 Staff working  in 8 hrs shifts)
• 1 Administrative head (Nodal person)
• 1 Information Officer (the contact person for families of the patients).
  The number of staff may be increased or decreased depending on the capacity of the facility.

HOW CAN YOU CONTRIBUTE?

"How can an individual contribute to the society or community?" is a question that can be best answered by oneself. Every individual can contribute in various ways by innovating or finding solutions to fill the lacuna or sufficiency of the existing systems at the grass-root level of a community. This process can only be started once there is a clear idea of the existing system that has been functioning to solve the problems and obstacles that have popped up in the past and present scenarios. You can contribute in three ways.

Cooperate with courtesy and patience with healthcare workers in the smooth working of the public health system. Always cooperate with law enforcement officials and other public servants.

Communicate to your family and friends how our public governance system works. May this knowledge and awareness flow from you to many others.

Software Engineer - There are multiple software engineers who have built systems to track or integrate multiple processes in the healthcare system/ambulance network to improve the efficiency of the existing system.

Farmers - Many farmers have started giving advice to homemakers and youngsters about the basic steps and knowledge required to cultivate vegetables at home. Thereby promoting the concept of self-sufficiency.

Artists - Creative illustrations have been made to improve public health awareness campaigns. Art plays a major role in influencing the public. Moreover, art as an activity also supports mental health. Therefore as an artist, you may be able to contribute by creating meaningful art spreading positive messages or important information among the public. You may even choose to contribute by spending a little time every day to teach children art.

How can you contribute

Students may choose to research on the impact of the Project in their panchayat. The impact is of two-fold. Firstly, the aspect of poverty alleviation and secondly, the impact of work carried out by the beneficiaries of the scheme. Find ways by which the quality of work done through the scheme may be increased so that the whole community may benefit from it. You may also choose to increase awareness about this scheme among the poor and unemployed.