Surviving the stress of a disaster



Laura Santacrose

Today’s guest blog on the importance of preparing both mentally and physically for disasters is by Laura Santacrose, MPH, the 2013-2014 student fellow for APHA’s Maternal and Child Health Section.

It is important to recognize that people can have emotional reactions leading up to a disaster, during a disaster and after a disaster strikes. Having a plan in place for a disaster can help lower the stress of an already stressful situation. In addition to having a plan for the family and an emergency preparedness kit, it is important to prepare for the emotional response you may experience as a result of a disaster.

While reactions to disaster will vary from person to person, it is common to experience feelings of shock and disbelief, and to experience difficulty sleeping and concentrating. People can even experience feelings of helplessness. Some people may experience changes in eating habits and use of alcohol, tobacco or other drugs. People often find it helpful to talk about their experience with friends and family, write their thoughts and feelings in a journal, or seek professional help and support. These are all healthy coping strategies that can help people deal with stressful situations like disasters.

Disasters can be particularly stressful for pregnant women and caregivers to children. The emotional and mental stress of experiencing a disaster can have a physical effect on a pregnant mother’s body, which can lead to poor nutrition and preterm complications. The stress of a disaster may increase the risk of preterm labor, low birth weight and even miscarriage. Therefore, it is important that all pregnant women know the signs and symptoms of preterm labor. Learn more about the signs of preterm labor from the Get Ready campaign and the March of Dimes.

Additionally, infants are completely dependent on their caregivers to protect them during a disaster. Therefore, caregivers need to care for their own physical and mental health in order to care for their infant effectively. An added benefit of breastfeeding your child is that by keeping baby close to the mother, it creates a soothing effect for both mom and baby, which can help to relieve some of the emotional stress felt after a disaster.

Check out the Get Ready campaign’s Mental Health and Disasters fact sheet for more information about how to prepare for the emotional toll a disaster may have on you or your loved ones.

 

Study: Most older adults aren’t prepared for disasters

Disasters can happen to anyone, anytime. But some people are more in danger of being harmed by disasters. According to a recent study, our older family and friends may be the most at risk.

 

The study, published in APHA’s American Journal of Public Health, finds that more than two-thirds of older Americans don’t have an emergency plan for natural disasters. It also finds that more than one-third do not have a basic supply of food, water and medical supplies stored for an emergency.

 

APHA’s news blog, Public Health Newswire, spoke with researcher Tala Al-rousan recently about the study. Al-rousan says that older adults are more likely to live alone, which can be dangerous during disasters. Disasters can make it hard for seniors to reach working phones, electricity, transportation or friends or family that can help them.

 

“Some use mobility devices that need electricity,” Al-rousan says. “Others cannot hear warning sirens. Older adults are more prone to suffer the consequences of extreme temperatures or noisy crowded shelters. Their chronic conditions are worsened by these weather changes more than younger people.”

 

So what can we do for older adults around us that might need more help? The community is a great place to start.

 

“Trained local leaders, health coaches, “block captains” and other residents from the community who are able to identify, reach older adults and help them prepare and respond to emergencies are examples that proved valuable,” Al-rousan says.

 

The American Red Cross encourages seniors to take steps to ensure their own safety, recommending that they develop a personal support network. According to the organization, seniors should:

• Determine before a disaster who you can rely on for help. Give them spare keys and show them where you keep your emergency supplies and records.
• Agree on how you’ll contact each other in an emergency, especially if phones aren’t working.
• Notify each other when you’re going out of town and when you will return.

Check out this fact sheet from APHA’s Get Ready campaign for preparedness tips for older adults and their caregivers for more information.