Initially when I thought about occupational therapy and disasters my first thoughts were about we could help after a disaster had happened, I guess you could say I was response focused. I also thought a big part of it would be to do with physical rehabilitation to those that received injuries from being in a disaster. Writing this blog has opened my eyes to the vast ways in which occupational therapists can help. As I said in one of my earlier postings occupational therapists can play an important part in helping individuals and communities prepare for a disaster. We have unique skills in analysis of environments and understanding individuals’ capabilities which put us in a good position to enable them to prepare for disaster situations. Even though I know I have these skills it had not occurred to me how useful they could be in enhancing disaster preparedness in people. It is certainly something I will consider to do in my future practice.
In one of the other papers I have studied this semester I learnt about the role of occupational therapy in community practice and health promotion. This area of practice is becoming a huge growth area for occupational therapists helping communities to meet their needs. With the increase of disasters happening in the world should we as occupational therapists be getting involved more?
I know after speaking to family and friends, who were in Christchurch when the earthquake struck that they were not suitably prepared. I’m sure they won’t mind me saying this but my parents who live in Christchurch didn’t have a supply of bottled water. Speaking to friends who were without power meant they didn’t have access to a phone, as mobile phone networks were down and everyone seems to have cordless phones these days and not the old school plug in ones. Could occupational therapists have helped people to prepare better?
I have been reading the “Best practice guideline for Civil Defence Emergency Management Sector: Community engagement”, and the forward written by John Hamilton the director of Civil Defence Emergency Management, mentions that they have had significant challenges in getting communities to participate in actions that would enable them to be better prepared. Could occupational therapists be suitable professional to help get this message out? Could we help offer activities and programmes that enhance learning and preparedness for disaster situations?
Noakes (2010) wrote his Masters’ thesis on “Emergency preparedness and personal evacuation planning: Involvement of Occupational Therapists” and carried out research on US home health occupational therapists. Noakes discusses how the ability to respond to an emergency is considered an IADL, and should be something that occupational therapists consider discussing with clients. He surveyed occupational therapists about their understanding and questioned them whether they addressed this issue with clients. One respondent in his research mentioned that addressing emergency planning enabled them to also look at clients’ cognition and problem solving (Noakes). Should occupational therapists address emergency planning with clients on home visits? I personally think it is a good idea and maybe something I will consider when I am out in practice.
As to all the people still recovering from yesterday’s earthquake in Christchurch, I’m sure many of them are still in shock and could do with some support. Occupational therapists could be working with some of them to help them develop their coping skills and bring some structure and routine back into their lives.
References
Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management (2010) Community Engagement in the CDEM context: Best Practice Guideline for Civil Defence Emergency Management Sector [BPG 4/10] (Electronic version). Wellington: Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management.
Noakes, P. (2010). Emergency preparedness and personal evacuation planning: Involvement of occupational therapists. Retrieved August 18, 2010, from http://dspace.nitle.org/bitstream/handle/10090/15557/pnoakes_msot_may_2010_thesis.pdf?sequence=1
It is interesting, I was also under the impression that occupational therapists helped after the disaster. It was really great to read all the possible ways occupational therapists can help in disaster management.
ReplyDeleteI think you have posed some very interesting and thought provoking questions, and on the whole, I think that there is definately a place for us out there.
I remember back in primary school how we used to be taught 'emergency proceedures' incase a disaster occurred. Do you know if they still do this?
Hey Olivia! I've am enjoying reading your blog! I have recently applied for a M.S. OT program in the United States and am also interested in disaster relief (in addition issues related to refugees/asylum seekers/internally displaced people and systematically excluded groups). Like you, I've traveled a good bit and done some disaster relief work since graduating from college 6 years ago. I am excited about doing OT work because of all of the potential it has in the "occupational justice" and disaster relief arenas, but unfortunately there is so much less interest and activity in this in the United States than in Australia, New Zealand, and the UK... I'd be interested to know what you wind up doing (or are already doing) post-graduation, Anyway, thanks for sharing all of your insights on your blog!
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