Disaster strikes!! Test your knowledge and ability to react appropriately

DISASTER STRIKES!! Test your knowledge and ability to react appropriately Comment on the following statements by ticking either True or False and then turn to the correct answers and work out your score. 1 In case of disaster, send out an immediate appeal for interna- tional medical personnel. True D False D 2 When a disaster occurs, people in other countries should not react by immediately organizing the collection and despatch of whatever can be obtained in the way of medicines, clothing, equipment, etc. True D False D 3 A few weeks after a disaster occurs, things are usually back to normal and most of the major services are restored. True D False D 4 Disasters cause fewer deaths in rich countries than in poor countries. True D False D 5 Disasters bring out the worst in human behaviour. True D False D 6 When disaster strikes, outbreaks of infectious diseases are inevitable due to the presence of unattended dead bodies. True D False D 7 Mass hunger can be avoided after a disaster strikes. True D False D 8 Following a disaster, it is best to house people as close as possible to their own dwellings rather than in settlement camps. True D False D 9 In case of limited food supplies following a disaster, priority should be given to the young and the old. True D False D 10 When disaster strikes, each individual should take care of his own family and belongings first. True D False D 11 The intensity of two recent earthquakes in Armenia and San Francisco was the same but in Armenia several thousand died whereas in San Francisco sixty people died. This is mainly due to the difference in earthquake-proof construction. True D False D 12 The Sahelian drought is caused by a combination of climatic and man-made factors. True D False D • Correct Answers Calculate your score by counting 1 0 points if you answered correctly and 0 points if your answer was wrong. I. False Local health services are normally able to cope in case of disaster. They have the advantage of speak- ing the local language and are familiar with the health service infrastruct.ure. Foreign teams may provide specialized skills and equip- ment, but they have to be housed and fed. 2. True A fast international response to disasters is not necessarily the best solution. An evaluation of the most urgent needs should first be made so that communication channels do not become blocked by unessential items or by outdated medicaments and food products. 3. False Whilst the disaster may disappear from the news head! ines, the impact may last for years. There is often permanent damage to water supplies and health servtces; reconstruction and rehabilitation are time-consuming and costly. 4. True Poverty leads to poor living condi- tions and the poor are more vulner- able in case of disaster. The richer countries have the resources with which to rebuild their lives 'and are usually better prepared. 5. False Whilst some sensation-seeking scribes might encourage us to believe that looting and other forms of selfish behaviour are common following disasters, on the contrary, it has been shown that disaster situations bring out the best in people and solidarity is strengthened. ·------------------------------------------------------------------------------· 6. Por cortesia del Diario El Pais I Autor : Jose Maria Ponce False Dead bodies do not cause epidemics or disease transmission during the first 72 hours; after this, the decom- ·-------------------------------------· 7. True 8. True 9. False 10. False 11. True 12. True position process may cause contamination of water supplies. First priority following a disaster should be to care for the injured. Disasters such as earthquakes do not damage crops although drought, hurricanes and floods do. How- ever, if adequate preparations such as storage and rationing of foods have been properly organized, there should not be any serious hunger. When international assistance is requested, seeds and tools are often m~)fe important than food. Keeping people as close to their homes as possible is best; settle- ment camps should be a last resort since they create other problems. International assistance in the form of building materials and tools may be desirable. Careful rationing should be organized so that everyone is fed. Those involved in salvage work and reconstruction are particularly in need of a regular food supply. Team work is the most efficient way of dealing with the aftermath of disaster. Training of teams prior to a disaster so that each person knows his or her responsibilities is indispensable for the proper management of a disaster. Strict adherence to the building code in earthquake-prone areas signifi- cant) y diminishes the loss of human life. Overgrazing, a failure to plant trees and mismanagement of land use lead to soil erosion. In the Sahel, when added to the effects of climate change, all this means an advance of the desert. ·-------------------------------------· Result Since the beginning of time, our fragile earth has suffered and will continue to suffer from disasters, both natural and man-made. The disasters themselves may not be preventable but the unnecessary toll of death and injuries can be mitigated . The points raised in this test are, of course, not exhaustive but they do cover some of the situations you may encounter in times of disaster. If you scored 90 or more points: Bravo! Your reactions are excellent. Your participation in preparedness and response activities would be invaluable. If you scored between 50 and 90 points: You have understood most of the important priorities but your reaction and knowledge can still be improved. If you scored less than 50 points: You are on the right road and full of good intentions, but your knowledge of how to deal with disaster situations needs to be improved. Test created by Dorothy Ho ffmann and Gilbert Padey, WHO, Geneva, Switzerland WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION Geneva, Switzerland