8/8/2019 Importance of d m
1/3
Importance of Disaster Management The paradigm shift of the
passage of legislation on disaster managementwas an important step
that represented the country's resolve anddetermination to respond
in a more scientific manner. UPA Chairperson Sonia
Gandhi said more attention should be paid to environment.
Expressingconcern over damage to coastlines and ignoring soil and
seismic conditionsbefore taking up construction work, she said a
good and reliablecommunication system was crucial during a
disaster4 The field of Disaster management is finding new tools to
managehazards
and to deal with disasters; it is professionalizing and promises
to becomeone of the most challenging occupations in government5
The need for disaster preparedness pears to be greater today
than at anyprevious time in history. embers of the American
Nephrology Nurses'Association (ANNA) recognized this fact as they
formed for a second time acommittee to explore disaster
preparedness. The first committee was theDisaster Registry Task
Force headed by Barbara Prowant. The next groupwas a subcommittee
of the Professional Practice Committee -- the DisasterManagement Ad
Hoc Committee chaired by Sue Robertson. This issue of theNephrology
Nursing Journal is a direct result of that committee's work
andrecommendation.
Why does the need for disaster preparedness continue to surface?
There areseveral reasons that contribute to the concern expressed
regarding thistopic.
First is the underlying fear that people who have not personally
experienceda disaster will not fully realize the potential toll a
disaster can have in bothhuman and economic terms. There may be a
tendency to ignore the need fordisaster planning. Obviously, the
greatest toll connected with disaster is thetragedy of the loss of
human life and the associated human suffering. But,the economic
costs have to also be considered. It has been estimated thatthe
cost of natural disasters in the United States alone would run $18
billionannually starting in the year 2000. Yet, with adequate
preparation and timelyresponse this figure could be decreased by
20% - 40% (Clark, 1996). And, if only one human life is spared
through planning, is it not worth it?
Second, there are more people being kept alive today through the
advancesin modern technology in our field. Given the right set of
circumstances,hundreds of people may suddenly be without a facility
to receive their lifesustaining treatments.
Third, it is a well-known fact that the dialysis population of
today is older andhas more comorbid conditions than the previous
patients of years gone by.Hassmiller (1996) states that the elderly
and the disabled are at greatest risk
8/8/2019 Importance of d m
2/3
for disruption from a disaster. The elderly react more deeply to
loss of personal possessions, but yet may cover up the seriousness
of their lossesout of fear they may then also lose their
independence.
Journal Philosophy Statement
The Nephrology Nursing Journal is a refereed clinical and
scientific resourcethat provides current information on a wide
variety of subjects to facilitatethe practice of professional
nephrology nursing. Its purpose is to disseminateinformation on the
latest advances in research, practice, and education tonephrology
nurses to positively influence the quality of care they
provide.
The Nephrology Nursing Journal is designed to meet the
educational andinformation needs of nephrology nurses in a variety
of roles at all levels of practice. It also serves as a resource
for nonnephrology nurses. Its contentexpands the knowledge base for
nephrology nurses, stimulates professional
growth, guides research-based practice, presents new
technologicaldevelopments, and provides a forum for review of
critical issues promotingthe advancement of nephrology nursing
practice.
The Potential Disaster of Infectious Disease
The monograph also addresses another type of potential disaster,
a type of natural disaster that can be caused by microorganisms.
Infectious diseasespose a deadly threat to human life, especially
to those who areimmunocompromised. Some infectious diseases, as you
will read, haverequired that the victims be treated with
dialysis.
The thought of an outbreak of an infectious disease in our
hospitals andfacilities is frightening, and we must do all that we
can to prevent this fromhappening. Hence, it was decided to include
the Center for Disease Control's(CDC's) guidelines for dialysis
units. The CDC previously published the finalform of these
recommendations on April 27, 2001.
The Ultimate Medical Disaster
The American Heart Association recently changed their guidelines
regardingcardiopulmonary resuscitation and the use of the automatic
external
defibrillators (AED). Information on these topics can also be
found in thisissue of the Journal, as they too are disaster
related.
Reevaluate Your Disaster Plan
In conclusion, it is hoped that the information contained within
this issue of the Journal will inspire its readers to assess the
disaster preparedness plan intheir own facilities. First, is there
a plan? Does it need to be updated? Based
