Disasters can
strike anywhere and at any time. The recent Japan quakes and the droughts in
India are testimonials to this fact. Now, though we have a little control over
the timing and occurrence of the disasters, all we can do is curtail the
disaster’s impact and Disaster Management is aimed at achieving just that.
DISASTER
MANAGEMENT explains
how to overcome and get cured from disasters like floods, droughts, cyclones,
earthquakes, tsunami, landslides, bomb blast, fire, accidents, poisonous and chemical
disasters.
The term disaster owes
its origin to the French word “Disaster” which is a combination of two words
‘des’ meaning bad and ‘aster’ meaning star. Thus the term refers to ‘Bad or
Evil star’. A disaster can be defined as “A serious disruption in the
functioning of the community or a society causing economic, social and environmental
losses which are uncontrollable for long period of time.
The
basic supplies needed in a disaster kit are: -
Water: You should have a
three-day supply of water on hand, or about one gallon per day per person. If
your water is not already treated with chlorine, add some household bleach to
the bottles. It should be stored in a cool, dark place for no longer than six
months.
Food: Put aside at least three-days
worth of food in your disaster kit that is non-perishable and don't need
refrigeration. Also, choose foods that don't need heating. Avoid foods with a
high salt content as they will make you thirsty.
Foods that are
recommended are: Candy, chocolate, tea, coffee Sugar, salt, pepper, Canned
juice, milk, soup Canned fruits, meat, vegetables Peanut butter, jelly.
Assemble a first aid kit: for your home and one
for each car. A first aid kit should include 24 Sterile adhesive bandages in
assorted sizes, 2-inch sterile gauze pads (4-6), 4-inch sterile gauze pads
(4-6), Hypoallergenic adhesive tape, Triangular bandages (3), 2-inch sterile
roller bandages (3 rolls), 3-inch sterile roller bandages (3 rolls), Scissors,
Tweezers, Needle, Antiseptic’s, Thermometer, Tongue blades (2), Tube of
petroleum jelly or other lubricant, Assorted sizes of safety pins, Cleansing
agent/soap, Latex gloves (2 pair), Sunscreen, Non-prescription drugs pain
killer, Antacid (for stomach upset).
One should make sure that
the disaster kit contains clothes that provide protection from cold and from
heat. There should be at least one change of clothing per person, including
footwear.
Tools: Mess kits,
battery-operated radio or television and extra batteries Flashlight and extra
batteries, Cash or traveller’s checks, Knife, Match box’s, Thread, Whistle,
Plastic sheeting Map of the area (for locating shelters), , Paper, pencil
Needles,
Special
items:
include family documents such as birth certificates, passports, photo id, bank
account numbers, credit card numbers, household inventory, cash and important
things.
Types of disasters:
primarily there are two types-
1. MAN-MADE- Man-Made disaster
are specific events where a man made hazard has come to fruition.
Example-Fire,
Terrorism, Nuclear, Stampede, road accidents etc
Taking
an example of fire,
Fire safety refers to
precautions that are taken to prevent the likelihood of a fire that may result
in death, injury, or property damage. Three elements of fire are fuel, any
combustible material-solid, liquid or gas, oxygen and heat.
To
overcome fire we can use fire extinguisher, always remember P.A.S.S
P- Pull the pin
A- Aim the nozzle
S- Squeeze the trigger
S- Sweep it to side to
side
Steps
to evacuate a building on fire:
The
last person in the room should not lock the door.
Always
proceed to SAA- Safety Assembly Area
Always
use staircase to exit the building.
In
case of LPG, remember to walk briskly do not crawl.
Call
the ambulance, fire brigade and police.
2. NATURAL
When a natural
disaster occurs, we can't always rely on police or governments to provide help.
Earthquake is a sudden shake of
the earth, which lasts for a short time, within a very limited region. Most
earthquakes last for less than a minute, but sometimes shock may last, for as
long as 3 to 4 minutes. The place where an earthquake originates inside the
earth is called the focus of the earthquake. Most human lives in earthquakes
are lost due to collapse of buildings.
If you are caught
indoors at the time of an earthquake, stay away from glass windows, doors,
almirahs, mirrors, falling plaster, bricks or stones. Get under a table or a
sturdy cot so that you are not hurt by falling objects. Do not rush towards the
doors or staircase. They may be broken or jammed.
If you are outdoors at the time of earthquake,
If open space is available nearby, go there. Keep away from tall chimneys,
buildings, balconies and other projections, Do not run through streets,
hoardings or lamps may fall on you.
A flood is an overflow of an expanse of water that submerges land.
Flood is defined as a covering by water of land which is not normally covered
by water. In the sense of "flowing water", the word may also be
applied to the inflow of the tide. Flooding may result from the volume of water
within a body of water, such as a river or lake, which overflows or breaks
levees, with the result that some of the water escapes its usual boundaries. While
the size of a lake or other body of water will vary with seasonal changes in
precipitation and snow melt, it is not a significant flood unless such escapes
of water endanger land areas used by man like a village, city or other
inhabited area.
One needs to be prepared at all
times for any kind of disaster. As of April 2016 there have already been 9
earthquakes around the globe and 2 Tsunami warnings. I do hope that people who
read this article on Disater preparedness are able to implement some bit and live
a safer life.
- Mr. Vivekvardhan
Gade
Student,
INLEAD
July 2015, INBM
