4. Planning Levels

OBJECTIVES

  • Identify the different levels of planning for disasters.
  • Help families make a family emergency plan.
  • Recognize the importance of one’s own planning, and the planning by other health-care professionals and health centers.
  • Assist elementary and high schools in developing their own emergency plans and how they can integrate into the local community emergency plan.
  • Identify the special needs that should be addressed in a disaster shelter.
  • Describe the role of the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) in disaster response.
  • Discuss state and federal emergency response plans.

Planning in the family

Pediatricians should prepare themselves for a disaster as well as provide the families of their patients with information about creating a family emergency plan. The questions below serve as a planning guide. Families need to understand that they have to be prepared to evacuate before the area becomes inaccessible by rescue services, and if they choose to stay, they might not be helped immediately.

Important questions that family plans must address are:

  • What are the disasters most likely to occur in your community?
  • Is your home, your children’s school, and your working place located in risk areas?
  • How well-prepared is your home to face the most likely disaster?
  • Can your family be notified with sufficient anticipation or should they be prepared in order to respond at any time?
  • In the event of a disaster, can you locate and reunite your family members at a safe location?

All family members should know contact telephone numbers outside the affected area and know where community shelters will be located. It is also a good idea to have a pre-established meeting point outside the risk area when possible. Family should also know the location of the command center or evacuation site during typhoons, floods and other natural disasters.

What should you do when you or one of your family members need to leave the family because of healthcare or other related responsibilities during a disaster situation?

When professional duties (e.g., those of health-care professionals, policemen, firefighters, public officials) limit the ability to assist one’s own family, it is important to have a clear written plan that has been discussed and can be followed. An example would include having a retainer contract with a child care provider during a pandemic influenza outbreak.

Pediatricians should prepare themselves for a disaster as well as provide the families of their patients with information about creating a family emergency plan.

Do any members of your family have special health needs that might be affected during a disaster?

Consider storing and periodically renewing medications and supplies needed by family members with special health-care needs for use in the event of a disaster. Consider having a small backup generator to keep a refrigerator operational to store medications when there is no electricity. Recognize that family members with special needs may require earlier evacuation to ensure a safe environment.

Provide families with information about making a contingency plan that will enable family independence for 3 days following a disaster.

A list of supplies needed for 3 days of self-sufficiency for a high income country are shown in Box 2. This list should be modified for what is appropriate and feasible for low and middle income countries. A local specialist can add other useful supplies based on the local situation. Box 3 lists online resources for families.

BOX 2. Supplies needed for 3 days of self-sufficiency

Basic supplies

  • Bottled drinking water (4 L/day/person)*
  • Identity cards of all family members
  • Well-equipped first aid kit and first aid manual
  • Non-perishable food
  • Matches
  • Flashlight with batteries or hand-crank
  • Extra clothing for protection from bad weather or outdoor stays
  • Blankets or sleeping bags
  • Money, including small change
  • Insect repellent
  • Personal hygiene products and sanitizer
  • Various supplies for infants and small children
  • Portable radio, cell phones (preferably with radio or walkie-talkies)
  • Map of the city or region
  • Frequently used medications and medical prescriptions.

Some complementary supplies

  • Manual can opener
  • Garbage bags
  • Two extra sets of home and car keys
  • Elements to hold and transport pets (e.g., leashes, collars, kennels)
  • Food and water for pets
  • Extra glasses

*It is advisable to have enough drinking water for 1 week.

From: Romig LE. Disaster Management. In: APLS Course Manual. Jones & Bartlett Publishers, 2006.

A local specialist can add other useful supplies based on the local situation. Box 3 lists online resources for families.

BOX 3. Resources for families on the Internet