Health Effects of Hazards

Hazard
epidemics;
environmental
pollution

Impact on Public Health

immediate increased risk of death, illness and disability;
risk of infection or contamination for relief personnel;
(long term) exposure of public to toxic substances;
overload of facilities and services;
rumours;
diversion of resources

storm;
earthquake;
volcano;
flood;
landslide;
tsunami;
fire;
explosion;
accidents

immediate increased risk of death, illness and disability;

possible environmental pollution;
(long term) exposure of public to toxic substances;
damage to or loss of essential life support services - water, food, shelter;
displacement of population;
breakdown in security;
breakdown in communications networks and information flows;
damage to and loss of facilities, services and staff;
high levels of psychosocial stress

drought;
famine;
pests;
plagues;
infestations

long term risk of increased morbidity and mortality;

breakdown in food security;
population displacement;
high levels of psychosocial stress;
exposure to toxic substances (chemical sprays)

war;
civil strife;
economic crisis

immediate increased risk of violent death and disability;

possible environmental pollution;
damage to or loss of essential life support services - water, food, shelter;
displacement of population;
breakdown in security;
breakdown in communications networks and information flows;
damage to and loss of facilities services and staff;
high levels of psychosocial stress

Health Priorities for Response

confirm the problem;
identify and confirm the cause;
issue guidelines, educate staff and mobilise resources;
case diagnosis, case confirmation, patient care, case treatment and referral;
activation of surveillance and monitoring systems to monitor caseload, case
fatality rates, morbidity and mortality;
prevent spread;
protect staff and facilities;
care of the dead;
public information, dealing with the media and international aid
search and rescue, triage, first aid, medical evacuation, hospital emergency care;
protect staff and facilities;
activate mass casualty management plans;
activation of surveillance and monitoring systems for injury, disease, nutritional
status, water quality and disability;
special services for the homeless and displaced - water, food, shelter, health,
security;
stress management;
care of the dead;
public information, dealing with the media and international aid
reinforcement of essential services;
activation of surveillance and monitoring systems for disease, nutritional status
and water quality;
special services for the homeless and displaced - water, food, shelter, health,
security;
stress management;
care of the dead;
public information, dealing with the media and international aid
immediate provision of essential services - shelter, water, food, etc.;
activation of surveillance and monitoring systems for injury, disease, nutritional
status, water quality and disability;
special services for the homeless and displaced - water, food, shelter, health,
security;
stress management;
care of the dead;
protect staff and facilities;
public information, dealing with the media and international aid

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Printed: 19/04/06

Health Effects of Hazards

Hazard
epidemics;
environmental
pollution

Recovery and Rehabilitation

health education, public awareness, public
information and community involvement;
documentation and analysis of the incident;
social services for the affected groups

storm;
earthquake;
volcano;
flood;
landslide;
tsunami;
fire;
explosion;
accidents

health education, public awareness, public

information and community involvement;
documentation and analysis of the incident;
social and counselling services for the affected groups - disabled, displaced;
infrastructure demolition, repair and replacement;
economic regeneration
health education, public awareness, public
information and community
involvement;
documentation and analysis of the
incident;
social and counselling services for the
affected groups - disabled, displaced;
economic regeneration

drought;
famine;
pests;
plagues;
infestations

war;
civil strife;
economic crisis

health education, public awareness, public

information and community involvement;
document and analyse the incident;
recruitment and training of new staff;
social and counselling services for the affected groups - disabled, displaced, demobilised;
infrastructure demolition, repair and replacement;
dealing with special hazards such as landmines and military ordinance;
economic regeneration

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Hazard/Vulnerability Reduction
environmental sanitation;
immunisation coverage;
disease and vector control;
staff awareness and staff training;
public awareness and public information;
public health;
transport, storage and use of toxic substances;
community participation
demography and land utilisation;
siting and construction of health and public sector infrastructure;
private sector involvement in public issues housing, infrastructure, environment;
public health and mental health issues;
disease and vector control;
staff awareness and staff training;
public awareness and public information

Preparedness/response capacity
legal mechanisms;
policies and procedures;
technical guidelines;
staff recruitment and training;
resource development and resource allocation;
planning processes and planning objectives;
buffer stocks and stockpiles;
early warning systems;
public health, mental health and hospital programme planning;
reporting systems;
public awareness and public information;
participation in regional bodies and international institutions;
role of international agencies in relief and development;
services for special groups such as the disabled, displaced;
inter-sectoral and sectoral co-ordination and managerial systems;
role of research and expert centres;

demography and land utilisation;

public health and mental health issues;
conflict resolution and community participation;
disease and vector control;
staff awareness and staff training;
public awareness and public information

planning for:
- reception/care of displaced people;
- first aid and triage;- emergency transport;
- hospitals and health centres;
- mass casualty management;
- hazardous substances;
- injury/disease/disability surveillance;
- medical supplies systems;
- blood banks and laboratories;

demography and land utilisation;

siting and construction of health sector infrastructure;
public health and mental health issues;
conflict resolution and community participation;
disease and vector control;
staff awareness and staff training;
public awareness and public information

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Health Effects of Hazards

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Used as a group exercise

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