Emergency Preparedness: Safety and Response

Posted on Dec 10, 2024 in Medicine & Health

Triangle of Life: Earthquake Safety

When buildings collapse, the weight of the roof often falls on objects or furniture inside, crushing them. However, a void is often created next to these objects. This space is known as the “Triangle of Life.” The larger, heavier, and stronger the object, the less it will be compacted. The less the object compacts under the weight, the greater the gap or hole beside it, and the greater the chance that a person using this void will not be injured.

Safety Instructions During a Building Collapse

  • Do not get under objects like desks or cars during a building collapse. People who do this are often crushed.
  • Instead, lie down in a fetal position next to a sofa, large furniture, or beside your bed.
  • Do not go down the stairs.
  • If you are inside a building, stay inside. If you are inside a vehicle, get out and lie down beside it.

ONEMI: National Office of Emergency of the Interior Ministry

Created in 1960 after the great earthquake that struck the city of Valdivia, ONEMI was granted autonomy in 1974 by decree.

Mission

To plan, promote, coordinate, and implement actions for prevention, response, and rehabilitation in situations of collective risk, emergencies, disasters, and catastrophes caused by natural or human action. This is achieved through the coordination of the National Civil Protection System to protect people, property, and the environment.

Vision

To contribute to the quality of life of citizens by incorporating better control and risk management in planning for sustainable development at national, regional, provincial, and community levels. This is primarily aimed at improving the security and protection of people, property, and the environment.

Strategy

  • Strengthen, develop, and coordinate the state’s management in crisis situations against natural and human hazards.
  • Provide technical assistance to line agencies, regional teams, provincial and community authorities.
  • Educate, train, and advise authorities and staff at different administrative levels on risk management, early warning, and emergency management.
  • Develop and disseminate methodologies, programs, studies, and technical reports related to vulnerability to different natural and/or human hazards.
  • Establish guidelines for continuous improvement in mitigation, preparedness, and prevention through projects and coordination with scientific and technical organizations.

HAZMAT: Hazardous Materials (MATPEL)

HAZMAT is an abbreviation of Hazardous Materials. In Chile, it is called MATPEL, an abbreviation of Materiales Peligrosos. HAZMAT and MATPEL refer to the same thing: Hazardous Materials.

What are Hazardous Materials?

Hazardous materials are substances or elements that, due to their volume or hazardous nature, involve a higher risk than normal to health, property, and the environment during extraction, manufacture, storage, transport, and use.

Routes of Entry of Foreign Organisms: Respiratory, skin, digestive, parenteral.

Types of Risk: Physical, Chemical, Biological.

HAZMAT Division Levels

  • Level 1 Knowledge: Recognizes and initiates a HAZMAT emergency response sequence. Provides evidence for the recognition and identification of the material involved.
  • Level 2 Basic Operations (Defensive): Starts incident response. Recognizes and, if possible, identifies the substance or product involved. Assesses the scene, establishes the security perimeter and area protection. Informs the communications center.
  • Level 3 Hazardous Materials Technician: Responds to the incident to control the release of the substance or product. Works offensively with the specific protection required. Delineates the areas of isolation.
  • Level 4 Hazardous Materials Specialist: Performs the same actions as the previous level but with greater knowledge of the nature, properties, and behavior of hazardous materials.
  • Level 5 Incident Commander for Hazardous Materials: Takes command, transferring from the first responder. Must have at least the knowledge of a HAZMAT technician and extensive field experience. Takes responsibility for driving specific actions to control the incident and ensures the safety of their staff.

Emergency Response Guide

  • Hot Zone: The area immediately around the incident, extending far enough to prevent adverse effects from the release of hazardous materials to personnel outside the exclusion zone or restricted area.
  • Warm Zone: An area where personnel and equipment decontamination takes place. It supports the hot zone, includes checkpoints for access, and helps reduce the spread of contamination (decontamination area, pollution reduction, or limited access).
  • Cold Zone: This area contains the command post and other support functions deemed necessary to control the emergency (clean zone or support).

Types of Suits

  • a) Encapsulated Suit: Completely covers the user and everything inside or used within it, including respiratory protective equipment. It has openings that prevent the product from entering the suit. Gloves and boots do not always form a seal with the suit.
  • b) Non-encapsulated Suit: Protects only the user. Additional equipment such as SCBA, radio, etc., are left without protection and must be compatible with the hazardous materials to which they will be exposed.

Respiratory Protection

There are two types of respiratory protection: self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) and filter masks (mechanical, chemical, or mixed).

Levels of Protection

  • Level A: Provides the highest level of protection for the skin and respiratory system. It also provides protection for the SCBA and other equipment. Used for protection against high concentrations of toxic materials via inhalation or dermal contact when the hazardous material is known.
  • Level B: Provides the same level of respiratory protection as Level A, a medium level of skin protection (only splash and some vapor), and is the lowest level against unknown materials.
  • Level C: Provides the same level of skin protection as Level B and a lower level of respiratory protection. This level has limited use in responding to emergencies involving hazardous materials used in environmental control.
  • Level D: Provides no respiratory protection and no protection against chemical pollutants. It only offers protection against physical risks. Usually used in support areas of the cold zone and should not be used in the warm or hot zones.