Disaster Planning for Public Health in Bronx

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Table of Contents

The Disaster
The Nursing Response
The Preparedness of the Community
Summary
References

The Disaster

The community of the Bronx, NY, is susceptible to many human-made and natural disasters. One of the most notable issues that may lead to a population-level disaster is the occurrence of coastal storms. These natural disasters are defined by a combination of snow and rain, coastal flooding, and strong winds (NYC Health, n.d.). The region of the Bronx not the most vulnerable area of the city, but it is significantly affected by the storms’ effects nonetheless (NYC Health, 2016).

According to the report by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention ([CDC], 2017a), the sea level rise and climate change lead to the increased rate of coastal storms affecting the U.S. During a coastal storm, communities of the Bronx and New York as a whole can encounter such problems as loss or damage of property, casualties, as well as infectious diseases and other health risks.

As it is stated above, coastal storms have many harmful effects. For example, strong winds may damage buildings, endanger people and animals, or disrupt the city’s infrastructure. Flooding is another significant concern which is followed by an increase in infectious diseases. In such hazardous situations, drowning becomes a prevalent cause of death among the affected residents (CDC, 2017a). Moreover, the water supply often becomes contaminated, exposing the citizens to dangerous pathogens. People may suffer from wounds, nose, throat, or ear infections, and gastrointestinal problems (diarrhea, E. coli).

Finally, there exist risks of electrocution, poisoning, and trauma due to falling debris or moving cars (CDC, 2017b). Individuals with disabilities and older people with mobility issues may be at risk of being trapped in their current location during a storm. It is vital to mention that people living in highly hazardous zones may experience exacerbations in mental illnesses linked to stress and anxiety.

The Nursing Response

As can be observed, a variety of precautionary measures have to be taken to minimize the effects of coastal storms. The Bronx, NY, does not have a plan for coastal storms that is unique to the area. All available links lead to the city’s preparations and the disaster mitigation initiatives suggested by the state (NYC Health, n.d.). It is crucial to point out that the role of the city’s services is mentioned briefly in these materials, while the majority of information is directed towards citizens. Moreover, the duties of medical professionals are not defined anywhere. This suggests that each healthcare establishment is expected to have a personal plan for dealing with coastal storms.

Nurses in such facilities need to follow a four-step approach to designing a disaster plan. Firstly, they should engage in prevention by collecting information about climate change and the preparedness of the region. Second, they should spread awareness of the storm’s outcomes and health risks, thus participating in community education (Veenema et al., 2016). Third, during a disaster, nurses should be prepared to work in an emergency mode which increases their burden. Finally, after the storm’s end, they should help the community to recover by providing medical assistance, wound treatment, and vaccination.

Emergency preparedness includes nursing training to increase the professionals’ effectiveness in responding to disasters. Before a storm occurs, nurses should work with community leaders, faith organizations, educational centers, healthcare organizations, and elsewhere to disseminate the information about disasters. They should encourage people to prepare – equip their houses with emergency kits, purchase insurance, and be aware of health risks.

People should be taught about preliminary signs of storms and weather changes (strong wind, rain, snow, low atmospheric pressure). During a storm, nurses should be ready to refocus their priorities towards people affected by the disaster and take on more responsibility by serving people with open wounds, infections, and other acute conditions. It is also vital for nurses to establish a communication channel with the residents.

The recommended plan for dealing with a coastal storm greatly relies on the preparedness of the community. For example, as the city’s emergency communication notifies the citizens, New Yorkers should know how these alert systems work. Upon receiving a message about an upcoming storm, people in the Bronx should act to minimize the damage. For example, they should hide objects that are placed outside their house.

People should also have emergency kits that they will use if the power is out, the water is contaminated, or some other services are unavailable. The residents need to be educated about the ways to safely evacuate their houses. They should know to which facilities they can go, what they should bring with them, and whom to contact in case of problems. This information should be provided to the community regularly with drills and community workshops.

The discussed above outcomes of coastal storms include various health ca problems that should be addressed by nurses. For example, vaccination is the best practice for dealing with increased infection rates due to flooding (Jones et al., 2016). Nurses should promote the use of vaccines in the community and administer them. Moreover, psychological support is also one of the nurses’ duties during and after the disaster. Many people experience PTSD, anxiety, stress, and depression, especially if they or their loved ones have been significantly affected by the disaster. Nurses should provide counseling, emotional support, and education to people to help cope with the existing concerns.

The Preparedness of the Community

For the community of the Bronx, the majority of public websites cover the preparedness of NYC in general. For example, NYC Health (n.d.) provides the public with information that explains what types of coastal storms exist and how they are treated by the city. It states that people should be ready to protect themselves from the flooding by acquiring an emergency kit, learning about evacuation zones, and purchasing insurance for their property.

Moreover, it notes that the TV and radio are used for emergency announcements, signifying that the city is prepared to establish communication channels. NYC has a specific program for notifying the community about the state of the disaster – Notify NYC.

The available resources fail to provide citizens with any particular information on medical care. Also, they do not mention any data about nursing responsibilities, although they mention some community work in the form of awareness workshops. According to Lumbroso, Suckall, Nicholls, and White (2017), the previous disasters have shown that NYC does not have a system that effectively prepares people for hurricanes and floods. The authors state that the disadvantaged communities are not educated by the government to handle such dangerous situations without substantial losses. Furthermore, the high rate of people living under the poverty line also exposes residents to the lack of medical assistance and preparedness for the disaster.

Summary

The danger of coastal floods is a high possibility for the residents of the Bronx, NYC. Thus, it is vital for nurses working in the region to develop a plan that provides knowledge and support to the citizens before, during, and after the disaster.

The plan for the Bronx should incorporate nursing activities mentioned above and provide more information about the resources available to communities. The websites for the public are filled with preventive suggestions, but the role of healthcare specialists is not defined. The limited access of impoverished populations to education is not recognized fully. Overall, the systems of NYC appear to follow the national rules, but they lack specific information and connection with healthcare organizations.

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2017a). Coastal flooding, climate change, and your health: What you can do to prepare. Web.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2017b). Flood waters or standing waters. Web.

Jones, F. K., Ko, A. I., Becha, C., Joshua, C., Musto, J., Thomas, S.,… Nilles, E. J. (2016). Increased rotavirus prevalence in diarrheal outbreak precipitated by localized flooding, Solomon Islands, 2014. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 22(5), 875-879.

Lumbroso, D., Suckall, N., Nicholls, R., & White, K. (2017). Enhancing resilience to coastal flooding from severe storms in the USA: International lessons. Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences, 17, 1357-1373.

NYC Health. (2016). NYC public health disasters. Web.

NYC Health. (n.d.). Coastal storms and hurricanes. Web.

Veenema, T. G., Griffin, A., Gable, A. R., MacIntyre, L., Simons, R. N., Couig, M. P.,… Larson, E. (2016). Nurses as leaders in disaster preparedness and response—A call to action. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 48(2), 187-200.

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