FirstAid is just what its name implies.It is the initial help received by a person in trouble.Such aid should be concerned only with the immediate situation.The First Aid goal should be either to return moderately disabled persons to reasonably good function in a short time, or to make more seriously disabled persons as comfortable as possible until they can be given specific care.
·Accept every person’s right to his/her own feelings.
·Attempt to calm the victim, relieve the anxiety and stress.
·Communicate confidence in yourself.
·Accept a person’s limitations as real.
·Contact members of his/her family or support system.
·Size-up a disturbed person’s abilities as accurately and quickly as possible.
·Encourage the person to speak freely about whatever is on their mind, allowing them to “vent” their feelings.
·When the person begins talking, interrupt as little as possible.After you have heard the full story, you can ask for details.Practice “active listening”.
·Do not argue with the person if he/she disagrees with you.
·In helping a child, deal with the issues indirectly, and provide them with food and comfort.
·Do not impose your methods of problem-solving upon the disaster victim;his/her own solutions will be the most successful for him/her.
·Accept your own limitations in a relief role.Do not attempt to be all things to all people.
Emotional & Psychological Considerations in Disaster
1. Factors of the disaster which might affect the emotional recovery process:
·Was the family separated?If a family can be evacuated as a unit, the concern regarding the whereabouts and condition of the family members is not as overwhelming.
·What is the availability of outside help?
·Were appropriate leaders making decisions and giving directions?When this occurs, the frustration and confusion is decreased tremendously.
·Were communication avenues available for communicating with family and friends and for decreasing community rumors running rampant?
·Was evacuation planning organized with concern and regard for people as well as safety?
2. Disaster is a crisis in itself, however disaster and the crisis situation is increased when it is accompanied by:
·Death
·Injury
·Family problems
·Job and/or financial difficulties
·Illness
·Loss of personal belongings
3. Factors in dealing with crisis, either your own or that of family or friends:
·The key is to be able to talk about the experience and express the feelings accompanying the experience.
·To be fully aware of the reality of what has happened.
·To resume concrete activity and be able to reconstruct the pre-disaster life routine.
4. A key point to remember in disaster preparedness and the psychological facts involved:
·The more planning that can be done beforehand, the better the family will be equipped to deal with the disaster.
Information provided courtesy of the Irvine Police Department, American Red Cross and Irvine Valley College.
