Public Health Risks of Disasters Communication, Infrastructure, and Preparedness: Workshop Summary (2005) / Chapter Skim
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1 Linking Hazards and Public Health: Communication and Environmental Health
1 Linking Hazards and Public Health: Communication and Environmental Health
Pages 7-18
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From page 7... ...
Disasters pose a variety of health risks, including physical injury, premature death, increased risk of communicable diseases, and psychological effects such as anxiety, neuroses, and depression. Destruction of local health infrastructure -- hospitals, doctor's offices, clinics -- is also likely to impact the delivery of health care services.
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To answer those questions, it is necessary to understand the harmful agent, how it reaches the human body, and the health effects that it has on the body. As Goldman noted, while conventional bombs have accounted for 46 percent of international terror attacks between 1963 and 1993, and 76 percent of domestic terror attacks between 1982 and 1992, biological and chemical agents are of increasing concern.
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In addition to conventional bombs, biological, and chemical agents, Goldman noted that nuclear, economic, and cyber attacks are other potential sources of terror. Assessing the terror environment not After harmful agents are dissemi- only allows for monitoring of the sources nated, they are transmitted through one and routes of exposure, but it also helps of four vectors: water, air, soil, or food to prevent and treat diseases by (Figure 1.1)
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. While preventing all terror attacks in the first instance would be ideal, it is important that emergency managers and public health professionals plan for success in controlling and limiting the severity of injuries sustained in the event of an attack.
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The sense literacy, is a critical component of any of urgency surrounding emergency risk preparedness effort. communication distinguishes it from -- Julie Gerberding all other forms of health communication, noted Gerberding.
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Effective emergency risk communications messages reflect an understanding of the different ways that people react in an emergency, and will attempt to manage those stresses in the population. According to Gerberding, the psychological stages of response to crises are: · Vicarious rehearsal -- as a result of continuous news coverage, those located in areas removed from the disaster are still able to participate, vicariously, in a crisis that may not pose any real danger to them.
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. When planning crisis and emergency communication messages, in addition to understanding the range of emotions affected individuals may experience, it is important to understand that audiences judge the effectiveness of messages by their timeliness, content, and credibility.
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According to a joint study conducted by the Harvard Program on Public Opinion and Health and Social Policy and International Communications Research of Media, PA, immediately following the 2001 anthrax attacks, 77 percent of those polled had a great deal of trust in their own doctor to give them advice on how to best protect themselves. That was followed by high levels of trust in a fire department official, police department official, local hospital official, health department leader, governor, and, finally, a religious leader.
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The fourth rule is that the spokesperson must be honest. According to Lynn Goldman, of The Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, research has shown that, if the public is given honest information, inappropriate behavior will be less likely and As a result of the emotional component many people may even be comforted of disasters, if the spokesperson delivers by the message.
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Furthermore, prior to issuing a press release or a statement to the media, Gerberding suggests anticipating and preparing responses to potential questions to ensure that appropriate answers are provided to help achieve a positive health impact. To disseminate information to the public in the event of a loss in electrical power, Lynn Goldman emphasized the importance of crank radios, batterypowered radios, and landline telephones.
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Recognizing clinicians' vital role in emergency risk communication, the CDC has employed a tiered approach utilizing health educators, clinical specialists, and frontline clinicians to develop two different types of clinician communication (Figure 1.4)
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18 PUBLIC HEALTH RISKS OF DISASTERS FIGURE 1.4 The CDC uses a tiered approach of health educators and clinical specialists to distribute information to clinicians both prior to, and during, public health emergencies.
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