Chapter 44, Care of Patients in Disasters or Bioterrorism Attack: Disaster Preparedness and Response

Question 1 of 9

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Which service is provided by a Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT)?

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  • Providing primary health careDisaster Medical Assistance Teams (DMATs) bring medical, professional, and support personnel with medical equipment and supplies to sustain an operation for a minimum of 72 hours; one service the team provides is primary health care.
• • Establishing special-needs sheltersThe Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) establishes special-needs shelters when deployed to disaster areas.
• • Recruiting staff from health care facilities for triageA DMAT team provides support to local health care facilities that are overwhelmed rather than removing health care workers from those facilities.
• • Sustaining operations in the area for 48 hoursA DMAT team sustains operations in the area for a minimum of 72 hours.

Question 2 of 9

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When is an emergency considered a disaster?

• • A disaster exists when multiple people are injured in car crash, train crash, etc.A disaster does involve multiple injured or fatally injured people; however, if the hospital or area has the resources and capability of handling it, then it is not considered a disaster.
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  • A disaster exists when the number of casualties exceeds the resource capabilities of the area.A disaster exists when the number of casualties exceeds the resource capabilities of the area; therefore, the community’s existing emergency resources may be overwhelmed.
• • A disaster exists when the accident involves fatalities.A disaster does normally involve fatally injured people; however, if the hospital or area has the resources and capability of handling it, then it is not considered a disaster.
• • A disaster exists in an accident involving walking wounded, critically wounded, and fatally wounded victims.The walking wounded, critically wounded, and fatally wounded usually make up the victims in a disaster. However, if the hospital or area has the resources and capability of handling it, then it is not considered a disaster.

Question 3 of 9

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Which governmental agency is responsible for disaster planning? Select all that apply. One, some, or all responses may be correct.

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  • Department of Homeland SecurityThe Department of Homeland Security is responsible for disaster planning.
• • The Salvation ArmyThe Salvation Army is a private agency that works together with the Red Cross and the Office of Emergency Services to plan for disasters and offer disaster relief.
• • The American Red CrossThe American Red Cross is a voluntary organization that traditionally provides the essentials of shelter, food, and first aid during a natural disaster. The American Red Cross is a private entity. It is not federally funded.
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  • Center for Domestic PreparednessThe Center for Domestic Preparedness is responsible for disaster planning.
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  • Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is responsible for disaster planning.
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  • US Public Health ServiceThe US Public Health Service is responsible for disaster planning.

Question 4 of 9

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When are people designated with a black tag treated in a disaster?

• • Within 30 minutes to 2 hoursPeople designated with a black tag are already dead or are expected to die. Those with a yellow tag are treated within 30 minutes to 2 hours.
• • After 2 hoursPeople designated with a black tag are already dead or are expected to die. Those with a green tag are treated after 2 hours.
• • ImmediatelyPeople designated with a black tag are already dead or are expected to die. Those with a red tag are treated immediately.
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  • Not at allPeople designated with a black tag are already dead or are expected to die. Usually, they are not treated at all, because other patients are a higher priority.

Question 5 of 9

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Which nonnursing task might the nurse be asked to do during a disaster?

• • Insert IVs and draw bloodDuring emergency care, the nurse will perform needed procedures such as inserting catheters, nasogastric tubes, and possibly intravenous (IV) lines and drawing blood. These are nursing tasks, not nonnursing tasks.
• • Insert Foley catheters and NG tubesDuring emergency care, the nurse will perform needed procedures such as inserting catheters, nasogastric tubes, and possibly intravenous (IV) lines and drawing blood. These are nursing tasks, not nonnursing tasks.
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  • Pass out water and serve foodDuring a disaster a nurse may be asked to help cook, serve food, pass out water, or do whatever else is a priority need at the time.
• • Report and documentObserving, recording, and reporting information about patients to appropriate authorities must be done in an organized manner by the nurse during a disaster. These are nursing tasks, not nonnursing tasks.

Question 6 of 9

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Which nursing concern is a priority regarding communicable disease during and after a disaster?

• • Gathering medical historyGathering medical history is an important nursing function, but it is not the priority nursing concern regarding communicable disease.
• • Making sure everyone gets their medicationAssisting the people with their medications is important, but it is not the priority nursing concern regarding communicable disease.
• • Keeping families together in the shelterFamilies tend to want to be near each other during this time and this is not something the nurse really has to do. It is not the priority nursing concern regarding communicable disease.
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  • Preventing the spread of infectionDuring a disaster, preventing the spread of infection is a primary nursing concern. Infection control is a top priority when large groups of people are together in a shelter because the incidence of communicable disease is much greater.

Question 7 of 9

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Which action would the nurse take to be prepared for disasters in the community? Select all that apply. One, some, or all responses may be correct.

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  • Stock own household emergency suppliesTo be prepared for disasters in the community, the nurse will stock their own household emergency supplies.
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  • Know the disaster plan and the nurse’s duties at the workplaceTo be prepared for disasters in the community, the nurse will make sure to know the disaster plan and what duties the nurse is to perform at the workplace during an emergency.
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  • Know the community disaster plansTo be prepared for disasters in the community, the nurse will know the
    community disaster plan
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  • Know and recognize disaster warning signals and appropriate actionTo be prepared for disasters in the community, the nurse will know and recognize disaster warning signals and appropriate action.
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  • Know the community health resourcesTo be prepared for disasters in the community, the nurse will know the community health resources.

Question 8 of 9

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In which way can families prepare for disasters in their region? Select all that apply. One, some, or all responses may be correct.

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  • Every family should have a contact person outside the immediate geographic area.This is the person the extended family members can call to receive information about the welfare of their relatives.
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  • Each member of a family living together should know whom they are to call if separated from one another.This is important because communication into and out of the region is often cut off.
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  • Disaster supplies should be prepared by every household.This is prudent and responsible preparation for disasters that every family should do.
• • Every family should memorize the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) disaster number.It is good for a family to have emergency contacts in phone or posted in the home, but memorization recall would be inefficient in an emergency situation.
• • Every family should plan to stay in a shelter.Shelters are overcrowded in a disaster. Those whose homes are safe and not heavily damaged should stay in their own homes and provide self-care if able to.

Question 9 of 9

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Which action would a person take if smoke or fire is evident during a home fire? Select all that apply. One, some, or all responses may be correct.

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  • Drop to the floor.Smoke rises, so dropping to the floor allows a person to not breathe in as much smoke. It also allows them to see better.
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  • Crawl to the exit.Smoke rises, so crawling on the floor to the exit allows a person to not breathe in as much smoke. It also allows them to see better.
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  • Cover mouth and nose with moist cloth.Covering mouth and nose with a moist cloth decreases the risk for smoke inhalation.
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  • Feel door before opening it.If the door is hot, there is fire on the other side of it. In that case, find another exit.
• • Run out the door.A person should drop to the floor and crawl to get below the smoke rather than running to the exit. Running will increase oxygen to the fire if a person catches on fire.