Description

Several large natural disasters occurred in 2005 (tsunami in Southeast Asia, Hurricaine Katrina, Hurricaine Rita, Pakistan-India earthquake). The international response to the earthquake in Pakistan and India was slow and less than expected, partially because the sequence of disasters had not allowed response systems to recover. A serious disaster that occurs after several other disasters may not receive adequate relief, making the morbidity and mortality worse than it might otherwise have been.


 

A victim may also undergo exhaustion during sequential disasters. This was seen in evacuees from Hurricaine Katrina who found themselves in the path of Hurricaine Rita.

 

Responder exhaustion may involve:

(1) physical (fatigue, trauma, other)

(2) mental (lack of sleep, other)

(3) emotional (post-traumatic stress, emotionally drained, other)

(4) financial

 

Level of Exhaustion

Points

none

0

mild

1

moderate

2

severe

3

extreme (totally exhausted)

4

 

where:

• The level of exhaustion may be greater for people who ignore their own needs while caring for others.

 

total exhaustion score =

= SUM(points for all 4 parameters)

 

Interpretation:

• minimum score: 0

• maximum score: 16

• A poor response to a new disaster is likely if (a) any of the parameters show extreme exhaustion or (b) the total score >= 9.

 

Total Score

Parameters with Extreme Exhaustion

Response to a New Disaster

0 - 2

0

excellent

3 - 5

0

good

6 - 8

0

fair

>= 9

0

poor

NA

>= 1

poor

 


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