CHAPTER II

Related Literature

This study involves a brief statement about the importance of readiness and
preparedness of the employees, it also involves the related literature and studies about
this chosen topic.

According to Dooley, these items are included in the basic list of necessary
emergency supplies. Adequate first aid supplies, Food Supplies, Battery Powered radios
and extra batteries, Sanitation supplies, and extra fire extinguisher.

Here are some of the items needed:

FIRST AID KIT

First Aid is the provision of initial care or treatment given to someone who is
injured or suddenly ill. It is usually performed by non-expert, but trained personnel,
who have enough knowledge of giving medical treatment. It generally consists of a
series of simple and in some cases, potentially life-saving techniques that an individual
can be trained with minimal equipment. First Aid is an important skill. It applies to a
broad range of medical situations and consists both specific knowledge and skills (for
example, what to do for each type of illness) and the ability to assess a situation and
make appropriate decisions (such as when to call for emergency medical assistance).
By performing simple procedures and following certain guidelines, it may be possible
to save lives by giving basic treatment until professional help arrives. First Aid is not
an exact science and is open for human error. Some conditions are inevitably fatal and
no matter how hard you try, a person may not respond as you hope. However, if you do
your best and have enough knowledge about it, it may be possible to save lives of other
people. (Frederick, 2007)
 In any emergency, you must follow a clear plan of action. This will enable you to
prioritize the demands that may be made on you and help you decide on your response.
The principal steps are: Assess the situation, Make the Area Safe, Give Emergency Aid,
and Get help from the others. Before taking any action, try to control your feelings and
take a moment to think. It is important to avoid placing yourself in danger, so do not
rush into a potentially risky situation. Be aware of hazards such as petrol or gas. In
addition, do not attempt to do too much by yourself.(Edward, 2007)

A. Wounds and Bleeding

Breaks in the skin or the body surfaces are known as wounds. Open wounds allow
bloods and other fluids to be lost from the body and enable germs to enter. Wounds can
be daunting, particularly if there is a lot of bleeding, but prompt action will reduce the
amount of blood loss and minimize shock. When you are treating wound, it is important
to follow good hygiene procedures to guard both yourself and the casualty against
cross-infection. Some situations regarding wounds and bleeding are: Cuts and Grazes,
Foreign Object in a Cut, Bruising and Nosebleed. Here are the First Aid Techniques
applied during the following situations: Cuts and Grazes

Bleeding from small cuts and grazes is easily controlled by pressure and elevation.
An adhesive dressing is usually all that is necessary, but in some circumstances like if
the bleeding does not stop, if there is a foreign object in the cut, if the wound is in the
risk of infection or if an old wound shows signs of becoming infected, Medical Aid is
needed to be sought. 1.) Wash your hands thoroughly and put on disposable gloves if
available. 2.) If the wound is dirty, clean it by rinsing lightly under running water, or
use an alcohol-free wipe. Pat the wound dry using gauze swab and cover with sterile
gauze. 3.) Elevate the injured part above the level of the heart, if possible. Avoid
touching the wound.(Zigghler,2007,vol..2 )

Throughout life, you will be faced with injuries of every kind, whether it is a simple
paper cut or a severe chemical burn, every accident must be dealt in the right way. First
Aid procedure should be initiated through these kinds of situations to prevent
complications, pain or discomfort. The ability of individuals who first render care to
remain calm and respond appropriately can make a significant difference in the outcome
for the victim.

SUPPLIES KITS

Organize disaster supplies in convenient locations.Everyone should have personal

disaster supplies kits. Keep them where you spend most of your time, so they can be
reached even if your building is badly damaged. The kits will be useful for many
emergencies.

Everyone should have disaster supplies kits stored in accessible locations at

home, at work and in your vehicle. Having emergency supplies readily available can
reduce the impact of an earthquake, a terrorist incident or other emergency on you and
your family. Your disaster supplies kits should include food, water, flashlights, portable
radios, batteries, a first aid kit, cash, extra medications, a whistle, fire extinguisher, etc.

Keep one kit in your home, another in your car, and a third kit at work.
Backpacks or other small bags are best for your disaster supplies kits so you can take
them with you if you evacuate. Include at least the following items:

Medications, prescription list, copies of medical cards, doctor’s name and

contact information, medical consent forms for dependent, dust mask, spare eyeglasses
or contact lenses and cleaning solution, bottled water,

whistle (to alert rescuers to your location),sturdy shoes, emergency cash, electrical,
water, transportation, and other vital systems can be disrupted for several days or much
longer in some places after a large earthquake. Emergency response agencies and
hospitals could be overwhelmed and unable to provide you with immediate assistance.
Providing first aid and having supplies will save lives, will make life more comfortable,
and will help you cope after the next earthquake.(Chandler, 2008)

In addition to your personal disaster supplies kits, store a household disaster

supplies kit in an easily accessible location (in a large watertight container that can be
easily moved), with a supply of the following items to last at least 3 days and ideally
for 2 weeks.( Kristoffer, 2009 )

EVACUATION CENTER

The first decision during a workplace emergency is whether the staff should stay
inside or evacuate the building. Most companies focus heavily on crises that involve
staying inside, such as earthquake or tornado drills, or what to do when an armed person
threatens violence, but where the plans come up short is planning for emergencies that
require an evacuation.

Dangers inside the building, from fire to a toxic chemical spill, necessitate an
immediate evacuation. The only way to ensure that cool heads prevail in a crisis, and
that employees arrive safely outside the building is to have a clearly defined and well
practiced evacuation plan in place. Either approach to evacuations plans should result
in a head count and check of all personnel after implementation. Evacuation plans are
important for a number of reasons.

Requires that all employers keep an Emergency Action Plan on file, and the plan
must include detailed procedures for evacuation. Any company with more than ten
employees needs a written copy of the evacuation plan posted where it is visible to the
staff in an emergency situation. Changes to the layout of the building, the introduction
of new hazards, or significant changes in personnel will necessitate writing a new plan.
(Charles, 2011)

Create A Clear Chain Of Command

In the confusion of a workplace emergency, most people want to run and get out of
the building as quickly as possible; however, doing so increases the risk of injury and
property damage. The staff needs a calm, level-headed set of leaders who can
coordinate essential tasks and oversee an orderly evacuation. In general, companies
need four roles covered.

Point of Contact—This person communicates with emergency services, and makes the
decision about when an evacuation should occur.

Coordinator—Once an evacuation is declared, the coordinator completes the list of

safety tasks, including shutting off gas lines, doubling checking offices and bathrooms
for stragglers, and securing the site as best they can.

Head Counter—On the ground outside, head counters ensure everyone is accounted
for. If each department uses their own head counter, they need to report to a central
authority.

First Aid—Burns, cuts, and other minor injuries can be treated with the tools in a first
aid kit until emergency services arrive. Several members of the staff should have some
understanding of basic first aid, so everyone gets treatment.In small offices, a person
can hold more than one position, but all four are still necessary. (Harley, 2009)

Designated Meeting Place

Evacuation plans let employees know exactly where to go after leaving the building.
Rather than separating to different sides of the building, or drifting to their vehicles, the
plan lets the staff know where they are expected to be, and when they are expected to
be there after the evacuation begins. Staying together after an evacuation is important,
because it enables the head counters to get an accurate account of everyone who should
have left the building, and helps the head counters pass along information to emergency
personnel about how many people are left in the building, and where those people might
be.

Literature review suggests that earthquake preparedness involves much more than stocking up

on food and keeping a flashlight near the bed. After an earthquake or other disaster, emergency

response agencies will most likely be over burdened and may not be able to get to each

neighborhood immediately. Neighbors or co-workers need to take the initial emergency response

actions and be prepared to take care of others for at least seventy-two (72) hours. Past earthquakes

have thrust many untrained people into positions of providing first aid and rescuing neighbors.

Joining and forming a neighborhood response team can greatly improve a neighborhood's chance

of surviving an earthquake and improve the self-sufficiency of the neighborhood. As part of the

neighborhood response team planning process, neighbors conduct an inventory of skills and

resources available in their neighborhood, and team members identify neighbors that are physically

challenged or in need of special assistance .

Related Studies

The majority of work done in the field of earthquake preparedness focuses on

safety and preparedness in the single-family dwelling. Videos, pamphlets, and
manuals (FEMA, 2015 and 2007;) suggest ways to identify possible hazards in private
homes and list tools and supplies to stockpile to help survive in the first days following
an emergency. Although researchers note it is impossible to make a home earthquake
proof, to lessen the likelihood serious injury, FEMA lists in-home hazards:

Tall heavy furniture which would topple, such as bookcases, china cabinets, or
modular wall units. Hot water heaters which can be pulled away from pipes and rupture.
Appliances which can move enough to rupture gas or electrical lines. Heavy picture
frames or mirrors over the bed. Latches on kitchen or other cabinets that will not hold
the door closed during ground movement. Breakables or heavy objects that are kept on
high or open shelves.

A masonry chimney that could crumble and fall through an unsupported roof.
Flammable liquids like painting or cleaning products, which would be safer in a garage
or an outside shed.

The second phase of home earthquake preparedness is the storing of emergency

supplies. These supplies range from water to road map. These steps, along with
practiced family survival and evacuation plans, lessen the occurrence of injury.

Although the majority of earthquake preparedness literature is focused on the home,

many manuals and pamphlets are published on preparedness in businesses, for persons
with disabilities, and apartments and mobile home residents. Each of these issues
present their own unique set of circumstances and problems during an earthquake.

Although the potential for greater injury and life loss exist in apartment houses and
mobile homes, literature suggests that these residents can come together as a
community to prepare for the next big earthquake (FEMA, 2015).

Earthquake preparedness and planning for the physically challenged (elderly and
disabled) present additional scenarios. Special precautions for people with impaired
mobility involve letting neighbors know that what problems may be incurred in getting
out of the home. Evacuations can be made easier by clearing paths, finding alternate
routes, or securing objects such as bookcases that may block egress. Persons in a
wheelchair are instructed to stay in the chair, lock the wheels, and use their arms to
cover their head. If in bed, or out of the chair, disabled persons are instructed to seek
cover under a bed, desk, or table and protect themselves from falling objects.

For people who are deaf or are hearing-impaired, the greatest threat comes not from
the effects of the quake itself, but its aftermath. Simply, they will have a much more
difficult time communicating. Telephone lines will be out and electric typewriters will
be useless. If electrical power is out, communicating in the dark requires a flashlight.
Also, people may not realize that deaf or hearing-impaired persons cannot hear
evacuation warnings and instructions, and may be left behind. The deaf and hearing-
impaired can make sure they have a flashlight, pencil and pad, and hearing aid batteries,
next to their bed. They must also ask a neighbor to be their source of emergency
information as it comes over the radio. If at work, they must remind co-workers that
they cannot hear an evacuation order, and ask for help. For people that are blind or
have impaired vision, their surroundings may be greatly disrupted by an earthquake.
During an earthquake, objects may fall that obstruct exits. The vision-impaired should
have an extra cane at home and at work. Wherever they may be, things will be
changed because of the earthquake and they'll need a cane, even if they have a seeing-
eye dog. They should know alternate escape routes at home and at work, the ones
they are used to may be blocked (OES, 2006). Elderly citizens require many of the
same precautions as the physically challenged. Some additional things to consider are
to anchor any special equipment such as life support systems or oxygen bottles. A
security light in each room will light up automatically if there is a loss of electricity,
and continue to operate for four to six hours, and can be turned off by hand in an
emergency (FEMA, 2007).

Definition of Terms

Anchor - person or thing that provides strength and support.

Awareness - feeling, experiencing or noticing something.

Debris - pieces that are left after something has been destroyed or ruined.

Elderly - old or rather old.

Equipment - supplies or tools needed for special purpose.

Evacuation - act or process of evacuating

Impaired vision - weak eyesight.

Impaired hearing - weak sense of hearing.

Precaution - something that is done to prevent possible harm or trouble from happening
in the future.

Routes - a way to get from one place to another.

 NOTES IN CHAPTER II

Are You Prepared if Disaster Strikes? HR Focus, December 2000, 35.

Auf der Heide, Erik. Disaster Response: Principals of Preparation and Coordination. St
Louis, Missouri: C.V. Moby Company, 2006.

Usefulness of First Aid. 2007

Emergency Equipments. Edward, 2007

Dooley, David, et al., Earthquake Preparedness: Predictors in a Community Survey,

First Aid Kit – Importance, 2007

Faupel, Charles E. and Styles, Susan P. Disaster education, household preparedness,

and stress following Hurricane Hugo, Environment and Behavior, March 2007.

Federal Emergency Management Agency. A Checklist for Homeowners. 2016.

Preparedness for People With Disabilities. 2011

Medications of items needed, Chandeler (2008)

Importance of Evacuation Area. Charles, 2011

Create a Clear Chain of Command. Harley, 2009