This book is designed to aid in practical, day-to-day, on-the-scene disaster response and crisis intervention by all interveners. The elements are the basics of any discipline. Knowledge of them is critical to achieving success. The Elements of Disaster Psychology: Managing Psychosocial Trauma focuses on those basics that are needed by crisis and disaster responders in the field by providing an integrated approach to force protection and acute care. The presentation is ordered in such a way as to provide quick and easy access to the information needed from the initial deployment, to the final debriefing. The point of this approach is to help the reader accomplish what needs to be done and in the most expeditious and effective manner possible. This book will help responders to be effective when handling the psychosocial problems of victims and of responders as they present. It reflects what is known in the field without all the theory that often accompanies other texts. Much of the confusion about procedures and how to deal with crises has been eliminated. The lists, procedures, suggestions, and guidelines are field-tested and directly related to field situations. Those who want theoretical depth are guided to other sources in the bibliography that can provide such information. The table of contents is prescriptive in nature so that it can be used as a self-contained guide to disaster response. Two additional indices are included to help guide users to specific types of crises or to procedures and techniques and to the chapters of the book that are related. The book can be most appropriately used as a supplemental text in related emergency management, crisis intervention and disaster psychology classes, and it will also be appropriate for first and second responder training. The experienced disaster intervener can use this book independently in the field, in training and in the office. Table of Contents: Foreword by Raymond E. Swienton Preface Chapter 1. Understand the General Principles of Preparing to Respond: The Psychosocial Aspects of Disasters and Disaster Intervention 2. Take Care of Yourself: Your First Responsibility 3. Be Ready to Respond to the Call-Out and Deployment 4. Arrive at the Disaster Site or Staging Area Prepared to Intervene: Adjust Your Mindset Understand the National Incident Management System (NIMS) 5. Understand Crisis Intervention Skills, Procedures and Models, and How to Apply Them 6. Take Care of Victims and Refer as Needed 7. Respond to Children Who are Victims of the Disaster Know the Reactions of and Responses to Children in Disaster Understand the Guidelines to Assist Parents to Help Their Children Review the Thirty Steps to Handling Disasters for Children and Families Know the Specific Guidelines About What Parents Can Do to Help Their Children Cope with Feelings 8. Perform Essential Post-Incident Tasks 9. Attend to Special Issues and Concerns Develop Uncommon Sense Respect the Crime Scene Avoid Euphemisms Use Translators Effectively Understand Responder Security 10. Consider the Issues of Suicide Use the Ten Steps to Dealing with the Potential Suicide Understand Adolescent Suicide Attend to Disaster Grief Know How to Use the Lethality Scale 11. Pay Attention to Intervener Survival Utilize Self-Relaxation Skills Understand Stress Management Develop Personal Survival Skills 12. Learn and Utilize Effective Communication Skills Ask the Right Questions Understand the Messages Understand the Nature of Distortions Be Empathetic Never Assume Clarify Statements Know When and How to Ask Questions Deal Effectively with Silence Respond to the Victim in an Effective Way Effectively Communicate Be Aware of Nonverbal Messages 13. Plan and Prepare Intervener Equipment Assemble the 24-Hour Pack Assemble the 72-Hour Pack Assemble and Maintain Intervener Gear Keep Personal Equipment Ready to Go Develop 'Packs' and 'Packets' 14. Remember These Things When Responding to a Disaster Know What Hurricane Alerts Mean Prepare a Personal Evacuation Plan When Evacuating be Sure to Take the Following with You Assemble a Disaster Supplies Kit Prepare for High Winds Know What to do When a Hurricane Watch is Issued Know What to do When a Hurricane Warning is Issued Know What to do When the Hurricane is Over Learn to Shelter in Place Protect Your Valuables Assemble the Adult Kit Assemble the Toddler Kit Assemble the Baby Kit Assemble the Teen Kit Assemble the Pet Kit Be Able to Purify Water Review Nutrition Tips 15. Attend to Public Health Concerns 16. Understand the Role and Function of the Disaster MentalHealth Professional Teach Before the Disaster Respond and Assist During the Disaster Provide Crisis Intervention Refer for Treatment as Needed Follow-up as Possible Be Familiar with National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) Qualifications for Mental Health Professionals 17. Understand Standard of Care Under Normal Circumstances Versus Sufficiency of Care During Disaster Situations 18. Know the Legal Aspects of Disaster Crisis Intervention Understand Legal Framework for Disaster Response 19. Know How to do Psychological Triage Utilize the Crisis Intervention Triage System Understand the Basic Overview of the Four Levels of Triage Study the Characteristics of Each Psychological Level Understand the Characteristics Across All Categories See the Triage Card to be Attached to the Victim See the Triage Card to be Used by Triage person Read the Guidance Concerning the Proper Use of Triage Card System Review the Crisis Intervener Qualifying Questions Utilize the Triage Checklists to Perform Triage Know the Questions to Develop the Needed Information to Complete the Triage Process 20. Understand the Dangers of Disaster Response 21. Explore the Utilization of State Defense Forces: Uniformed Medical Reserve Corps for Disaster Medical and Psycho-social Response 22. Understand the Relationship Between Crisis Intervention and Critical Incident Stress Management Appendices Appendix 1: Utilize These Handy Forms in the Field Appendix 2: Study These Helpful Websites Bibliography Legal References Name Index Subject Index Disaster Psychology- Elements by Specific Audience Index Disaster Psychology- Elements by Specific Activity Desired Index About the Author
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