This blog and infographic about the ‘importance of examining hospitals as safe havens during natural disasters’ has been created by Eastern Kentucky University. Read our full blog for more information: http://blog.worldweatheronline.com/2015/08/03/importance-examining-hospitals-safe-havens-natural-disasters/

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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.
What’s this about?

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Why is this?
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 For example, the generators may be out of date and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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To find out more about why not read the whole
article, click the link below:
Examining hospitals as safe havens during
natural disasters