Disaster Support

Disaster Support Overview 

Brief summary: Disaster support in rehabilitation refers to the immediate and long-term healthcare response following natural disasters (earthquakes, floods, wildfires) or man-made disasters (conflict, accidents). Survivors may experience physical injuries (fractures, amputations, spinal cord injuries, burns), psychological trauma (PTSD, anxiety, depression), and disruptions to daily occupations due to loss of home, mobility devices, or caregiving support.

Signs/Symptoms:

• Acute trauma injuries (fractures, lacerations, burns, amputations).
• Secondary complications (infections, pressure injuries, contractures).
• Emotional/behavioral distress (sleep disturbance, withdrawal).
• Loss of functional independence due to environmental destruction.

Stages/Types:

• Acute Response: Emergency medical stabilization, triage, and basic survival needs.
• Rehabilitation/Recovery: Functional restoration, psychosocial support, and community reintegration.
• Long-term Resilience: Rebuilding systems of care, restoring participation, and alleviating disability.

Role of Rehabilitation

• OT
  • Support activities of daily living (ADLs) in disrupted environments.Introduce adaptive techniques and assistive devices.
  • Facilitate routines and meaningful roles for survivors.
  • Promote coping and resilience strategies.
• PT
  •  Manage mobility impairments, fractures, amputations, and musculoskeletal recovery.
  • Prescribe mobility aids in environments with limited infrastructure.
  • Prevent secondary complications such as contractures or deconditioning.

• SLP
  • Address communication/swallowing deficits from traumatic brain injury or intubation.
  • Facilitate alternative/augmentative communication when resources are limited.
  • Provide caregiver education in disrupted settings.

Evaluation

• Functional independence in ADLs and mobility.
• Pain levels, range of motion, strength, and endurance.
• Cognitive/psychosocial screening for trauma.
• Environmental safety assessments in temporary shelters.
• Swallowing and communication abilities.

Treatment

• OT: Task modification, energy conservation, home/shelter safety, psychosocial support.
• PT: Early mobilization, exercise, prosthetic/orthotic training, gait training.
• SLP: Swallowing therapy, speech retraining, caregiver communication strategies.
• Interdisciplinary: Group activities for community cohesion, trauma-informed care.

Helpful Resources 

• WFOT
• https://www.who.int/emergencies/partners/emergency-medical-teams
• https://www.cdc.gov/emergency/index.html

References 

World Health Organization. (2017). Rehabilitation in health systems: Disaster response and preparedness. WHO Press.

World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT). (2022). WFOT Disaster Preparedness and Response Position Statement.