Today is our topic of discussion Disaster management team
Disaster management team
Rescue team –
Involved in rescue work, such as, fire brigade, Red Crescent and armed forces.
Medical team –
It is a group of professional and para-professional medical personnel organized to provide rapid-response medical care or casualty decontamination during a natural disaster, a terrorist attack or other similar incident. Such a medical team should consist of the following members:
a. A team leader – Who guides and supervise the team, bool at long
b. Health professionals
c. Auxiliaries – Who has less than full professional qualification.
d. Ancillary – Other supportive staffs, such as, sweeper, driver, messenger, guard etc.
e. Besides these, the uninjured survivors may also play role in the team.
Function of a medical team during disaster:
1. Members of medical team should know how to bring into play the technical or community resources needed to supplement health activities, while still performing their own specific professional tasks.
2. Each team member does their duties in accordance to specific job description. it best
3. The channel of communication and the line of authority should be clearly understood by the members.
4. Management of injuries and various other types of medical emergencies.
5. Control of epidemic and endemic diseases.
6. Monitoring of nutritional status and education in nutrition.
7. Arranging trainings to enhance knowledge and expertise in sustaining these processes.
Role of a medical assistant in a tornado/flood/cyclone affected area/in area of disaster:
1. Management of injuries and various other types of medical emergencies.
2. Control of epidemic and endemic diseases.
3. Monitoring of nutritional status and education in nutrition
4. Arranging trainings to enhance knowledge and expertise in sustaining these processes.
5. Medical assistants should know how to bring into play the technical or community resources needed to supplement health activities, while still performing their own specific professional tasks.
6. The channel of communication and the line of authority should be maintained.
7. Do other duties as per assigned by authority.
Pre-requisite to reduce vulnerability:
Political Commitment:
Political statement of intent on disaster reduction should be translated into action. Resources have to be shifted towards mitigation and prevention activities.
Sustained Awareness:
Information on hazard, risk, and risk reduction measures should be made available to people at the local level so that they can understand their risks and cooperate in disaster mitigation measures.
Human Resource Development:
Capability-building should cover all stakeholders from the national level to the local and community levels. Appropriate training programs should be implemented for relief workers, for specialists in the related disciplines involved in disaster management and mitigation.
Institution Building:
Coordination and cooperation should be strengthened at all sectors to formulate and implement the strategy regarding disaster mitigation and management by building of institution.
Money:
Put resources in mitigation and prevention measures.
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