Community Emergency Preparedness: A Handbook for Managers and Policy Makers: A Handbook for Managers and Policy Makers

Author: World Health Organization
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-01-01
Features: In the book "Community Emergency Preparedness" compiled by the World Health Organization, the concept of "community crisis" is introduced, and detailed explanations are provided on the types of community crises, response methods, organizational measures, etc. On January 17, 1995, a major earthquake struck Kobe, Japan. The speed of on-site rescue at that time demonstrated the need for community-level preparedness for emergency incidents, with 65% of life-saving rescues completed within the initial 24 hours. Similarly, in the 1988 U.S. earthquake, 65% of life-saving rescues were also completed within the initial 18 hours. "The community is the on-site first responder," as stated in "Community Emergency Preparedness." The first responders to emergencies come from the community, making it the center of immediate response and recovery actions, capable of providing initial rescue and first aid. Communities can expect external assistance but should not rely on it, as this can easily lead to greater losses for the region and lives. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends this as one of the authoritative readings in the field of public health for member states; it is written for all sectors to participate in emergency preparedness. It introduces emergency policies, the hazards faced by communities and their own vulnerability assessments; and how to develop emergency plans, conduct daily training, and implement supervision for emergencies that may occur at any time. It is suitable for community administrators, leaders at various levels of health departments, healthcare personnel, and the general public.