Propose one example of a nursing intervention related to the catastrophic earthquake in Haiti in 2010

Throughout this course, you have viewed the Diary of Medical Mission videos dealing with the catastrophic earthquake in Haiti in 2010. Reflect on this natural disaster by answering the following questions:

1. Propose one example of a nursing intervention related to the disaster from each of the following levels: primary prevention, secondary prevention, and tertiary prevention. Provide innovative examples that have not been discussed by a previous student.

The earthquake took place in Haiti on January 12, 2010, with a magnitude of 7.0. This was a devastating earthquake that claimed the lives of many. The earthquake was the strongest to strike in 200 years.

The death toll varies but an estimate of 220,000-300,000 people lost their lives. Initially 1.5 million people

were displaced but as of 2017 only 37,867 remain displaced.

prevention in Haiti earthquake could be in various ways. For instance, before, during or after the quake.

Primary earthquake after the disaster. Nurses have a duty to work with the community to prevent the diseases from spreading after the earthquake. For example, administration of tetanus vaccines, supplying face masks and sanitizers. Maurer and Smith, (2013) affirm that nurses can help to plan for possible disaster before it occurs and provide care after the disaster has occurred. American Red Cross is the best agency that has been giving the response to disasters for over 130 years (American Red Cross, 2010).

During secondary prevention, nurses are trained to provide care to the wounded patients first in any disaster. Secondary prevention occurs at the end of the impact phase of the disaster. When the sorting of casualties is continuous, secondary prevention can begin in the post-impact phase of the disaster (Maurer and Smith, 2013.

Primary prevention and nursing interventions include: the workers and volunteers receiving available, necessary and appropriate shots prior to entering Haiti. For the Haitians, immunization would also be given. This is very important against, Hepatitis, and other rare, yet deadly diseases, such as measles, mumps, rubella, and pertussis. Education regarding safe and proper sanitation practices; hand washing and personal hygiene; maintaining trash in designated areas; staying active by volunteering/assisting and caring for other fellow Haitian children and neighbors.

secondary prevention occurs during the acute stage of the disaster. This intervention of course will differ depending on the type and scope of the disaster. After the earthquake some nursing secondary interventions

are activities typically involving emergency such as search and rescue, mass casualty response, disease control, and hazardous material response to enable early diagnosis and appropriate management of injury or disease.

Tertiary prevention strategies are intervention that are designed to meet the long-term need of individuals and

the community after the disaster has been resolved. The required types and scope of tertiary services will

largely be determined by the type and scope of the disaster. There will be a certain amount of people who’ll

need long-Terme services. Experts suggest a need for long-Terme treatment strategies that include individuals, group, and family therapy, effective pharmacotherapy, as well as short- and long-term hospitalization and healing is another important tertiary intervention. Providing place for people to speak with others about their feelings is beneficial to healing.

References

American Red Cross. (2010). International Disaster Services. http://www.redcross.org

Haiti Mission Connection. (2010). Haiti Mission Connection. http://www.haitimissionconnection.org/haiti/

Maurer, F. A., & Smith, C. M. (2013). Community/public health nursing practice: Health for families and populations. St. Louis, Mo.: Elsevier/Saunders.