Disaster Response and Preparedness
Expert-defined terms from the Postgraduate Certificate in Military Trauma Care course at HealthCareStudies (An LSPM brand). Free to read, free to share, paired with a globally recognised certification pathway.
Disaster Response and Preparedness Glossary #
Disaster Response and Preparedness Glossary
A #
A
Acute Stress Reaction (ASR) #
Acute Stress Reaction (ASR)
- An immediate psychological response to a traumatic event, characterized by sym… #
- An immediate psychological response to a traumatic event, characterized by symptoms such as anxiety, dissociation, and irritability.
B #
B
Basic Life Support (BLS) #
Basic Life Support (BLS)
- The level of medical care which is used for victims of life-threatening illnes… #
- The level of medical care which is used for victims of life-threatening illnesses or injuries until they can be given full medical care at a hospital.
C #
C
Command and Control #
Command and Control
- The exercise of authority and direction by a properly designated individual ov… #
- The exercise of authority and direction by a properly designated individual over assigned resources in the accomplishment of a common goal during a disaster response.
D #
D
Disaster #
Disaster
- A sudden event, such as an accident or a natural catastrophe, that causes grea… #
- A sudden event, such as an accident or a natural catastrophe, that causes great damage or loss of life.
E #
E
Emergency Operations Center (EOC) #
Emergency Operations Center (EOC)
- A centralized location from which government officials exercise direction and… #
- A centralized location from which government officials exercise direction and control in a disaster.
F #
F
Field Hospital #
Field Hospital
- A mobile medical unit set up near the scene of a disaster to provide medical c… #
- A mobile medical unit set up near the scene of a disaster to provide medical care to victims.
G #
G
Golden Hour #
Golden Hour
- The first hour after a traumatic injury, when immediate medical treatment is m… #
- The first hour after a traumatic injury, when immediate medical treatment is most likely to prevent death.
H #
H
Hazard #
Hazard
- A potential source of harm or danger that may affect individuals, communities,… #
- A potential source of harm or danger that may affect individuals, communities, or the environment.
I #
I
Incident Command System (ICS) #
Incident Command System (ICS)
- A standardized, on-site, all-hazards incident management concept designed spec… #
- A standardized, on-site, all-hazards incident management concept designed specifically to allow responders to adopt an integrated organizational structure.
J #
J
Joint Task Force (JTF) #
Joint Task Force (JTF)
- A joint task force is a joint force that is constituted and so designated by a… #
- A joint task force is a joint force that is constituted and so designated by a joint force commander.
K #
K
K9 Search and Rescue #
K9 Search and Rescue
- The use of specially trained dogs to locate victims in disaster situations #
- The use of specially trained dogs to locate victims in disaster situations.
L #
L
Logistics #
Logistics
- The detailed organization and implementation of a complex operation #
- The detailed organization and implementation of a complex operation.
M #
M
Mass Casualty Incident (MCI) #
Mass Casualty Incident (MCI)
- An incident in which emergency medical services resources, such as personnel,… #
- An incident in which emergency medical services resources, such as personnel, equipment, and supplies, are overwhelmed by the number and severity of casualties.
N #
N
National Incident Management System (NIMS) #
National Incident Management System (NIMS)
- A systematic, proactive approach to guide departments and agencies at all leve… #
- A systematic, proactive approach to guide departments and agencies at all levels of government, nongovernmental organizations, and the private sector to work seamlessly to prevent, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate the effects of incidents, regardless of cause, size, location, or complexity.
O #
O
Organizational Resilience #
Organizational Resilience
- The ability of an organization to anticipate, prepare for, respond and adapt t… #
- The ability of an organization to anticipate, prepare for, respond and adapt to incremental change and sudden disruptions in order to survive and prosper.
P #
P
Psychological First Aid (PFA) #
Psychological First Aid (PFA)
- An approach to helping people in the immediate aftermath of disaster and terro… #
- An approach to helping people in the immediate aftermath of disaster and terrorism to reduce initial distress and to foster short- and long-term adaptive functioning.
Q #
Q
Quarantine #
Quarantine
- A state, period, or place of isolation in which people or animals that have ar… #
- A state, period, or place of isolation in which people or animals that have arrived from elsewhere or been exposed to infectious or contagious disease are placed.
R #
R
Rehabilitation #
Rehabilitation
- The action of restoring someone to health or normal life through training and… #
- The action of restoring someone to health or normal life through training and therapy after an illness or injury.
S #
S
Search and Rescue (SAR) #
Search and Rescue (SAR)
- The search for and provision of aid to people who are in distress or imminent… #
- The search for and provision of aid to people who are in distress or imminent danger.
T #
T
Tactical Emergency Casualty Care (TECC) #
Tactical Emergency Casualty Care (TECC)
- A set of evidence-based, best practice trauma care guidelines for the prehospi… #
- A set of evidence-based, best practice trauma care guidelines for the prehospital setting.
U #
U
Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) #
Urban Search and Rescue (USAR)
- The location and rescue of persons trapped in confined spaces due to natural d… #
- The location and rescue of persons trapped in confined spaces due to natural disasters or structural collapse.
V #
V
Vulnerability #
Vulnerability
- The state of being exposed to the possibility of being attacked or harmed, eit… #
- The state of being exposed to the possibility of being attacked or harmed, either physically or emotionally.
W #
W
Wilderness First Aid (WFA) #
Wilderness First Aid (WFA)
- The assessment and treatment of an ill or injured person in a remote environme… #
- The assessment and treatment of an ill or injured person in a remote environment where definitive care by a physician and/or rapid transport is not readily available.
X #
X
Xenophobia #
Xenophobia
- Dislike of or prejudice against people from other countries #
- Dislike of or prejudice against people from other countries.
Y #
Y
Yellow Incident #
Yellow Incident
- An incident that requires a larger response than a single agency can handle an… #
- An incident that requires a larger response than a single agency can handle and may involve multiple jurisdictions or agencies.
Z #
Z
Zero Tolerance Policy #
Zero Tolerance Policy
- A policy that imposes strict consequences for breaking rules or laws, with no… #
- A policy that imposes strict consequences for breaking rules or laws, with no exceptions made.