Natural catastrophes such as hurricanes, floods, droughts, fires, and heatwaves can have devastating effects on people and property when they strike suddenly. Natural hazard and natural disaster are synonymous terms that can be used to describe the same phenomenon. There has been a general upward trend in the number, intensity, size, and total impact of natural catastrophes. When studying natural disasters from a global health perspective, we apply the notion of “systems thinking” to better comprehend the nuances and anthropogenic variables that connect a specific disaster to its causes and consequences. By doing so, we can better understand the causes and effects of a disaster. You may check out the population ecology graph worksheet, but due to all the changes everywhere and in everything, it is pretty difficult to follow.
The annual economic losses from catastrophic events increased by a factor of 10 throughout the 1990s, while the number of people whose lives were negatively impacted increased by a factor of two. Heat waves, droughts, fires, floods, and tropical storms are all examples of extreme weather that can harm human health. The “triple threat” of severe coastal storms, rising sea levels, and the failure of coastal barrier systems threatens the lives of those who live in low-lying coastal areas. Particulate matter in smoke from a fire can irritate the lungs and cause major health issues or even death. Mental anguish can accompany physical devastation that results from flooding due to the poisoning of drinking water sources and the relocation of people. The physical and mental well-being of those who have survived a tragedy is vulnerable to a variety of threats that are currently unknown. Examining the patterns of exposure to natural hazards, pinpointing vulnerable populations, and assessing mitigation methods should all be top priorities.
One of the most crucial parts of disaster management is keeping people and their belongings safe from harm. As a term, “safety management” encompasses a wide range of practices aimed at protecting employees from harm on the job. The basic objectives of safety management are the safeguarding of workers while they are on the job and the lowering of accident probabilities. Personal protective equipment (PPE) and other safety measures, as well as the enforcement of health and safety rules, are two examples of possible approaches. Four studies published at the start of this year by the RAND Corporation and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) described previous emergency responses to terrorist attacks. The research looked at these reactions in their historical setting.
All three of the aforementioned research projects emphasize the need for additional study and training to ensure the safety of first responders during a terrorist attack. You can find these ideas in the aforementioned books and articles. The articles detail the specifics of past terrorist acts and the insights gained by academics from their studies. They also stress the need of being ready, stressing the need for PPE and training (PPE).
The fourth report is a technical resource for individuals who responded to an incident involving the collapse of a substantial portion of a building. In this analysis, we combine what we know from previous studies of building collapses with new information to highlight the negative health effects that have been established through scientific research. Chemical and physical hazards, as well as the potential for respiratory and biological issues, have been demonstrated. The potential for harm to human health has also been demonstrated.