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Examining hospitals as safe havens during natural disasters
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During times of natural disasters, people often run to local hospitals hoping to find safety. However, an investigation by Consumer Reports showed that this might not be the safest option. Few hospitals are resilient enough to overcome the aftermath of floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, and storms.
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Many factors could cause complications within the hospital building. For example, the generators may be out of date and placed in poor locations. Additionally, backup generators don’t always work when people need them most.
Therefore, hospitals must prioritise conducting a thorough examination of their safety and emergency protocols and identifying vulnerabilities.
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Natural disasters in the US
In 2013, the US reported 28 natural disasters: six of which were climatological, seven were hydrological, and fifteen were meteorological.
Some of the main challenges faced by hospitals after a natural disaster include:• Loss of essential services such as water, power and the supply chain.• Loss of infrastructure.• Shortage of workers due to injury, illness, or transportation problems.• Sudden spike in the number of people needing treatment.• Relocation of care to other facilities not fitted for patient care.
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The hospital emergency plan should include clear and feasible steps for mitigation, preparation, response, and recovery. This plan outlines how a care facility will respond to and recover from a natural disaster. It is inclusive of elements such as communications, safety and security, assets and resources mobilization, staff responsibilities, support services, and utilities and clinical issues.
See the full blog for an infographic examining the impact of natural disasters and the impact on industry, hospitals, schools and homes.
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Examining hospitals as safe havens during natural disasters
