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Prior Planning to Avoid Responders Becoming “Victims” During Disasters

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 June 2012

Antony Nocera
Antony Nocera*
Affiliation:
NRMA CareFlight, Westmead, Australia
*
*Emergency Department, Nepean Hospital, P. O. Box 63, Penrith NSW 2751, Australia Email: [email protected]
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Abstract

Prior planning to meet the physical and mental needs of medical and emergency services responder, is a practical measure to reduce staff stress. This has the potential to improve both the operational efficiency of a disaster response and reduce the incidence of post-traumatic stress disorders in responders. Research is needed to define which interventions provide the greatest benefits to local responders.

Keywords

disastersdisaster workersemergency medical servicesfatigueneedsplanningpost-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)psychological reactionsrespondersstress
Type
Special Reports
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 15 , Issue 1 , March 2000 , pp. 54 - 56
Copyright
Copyright © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2000

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