Creating Awareness for Minimizing Disaster Casualties

Abstract

Disaster prevention activities are designed to provide permanent protection from disasters. Disaster-whether natural or manmade can create havoc at the affected site. Not all disasters, particularly natural disasters, can be prevented, but the risk of loss of life and injury can be mitigated with good evacuation plans, environmental planning and design standards. Rescue operations, if not managed well, can increase the casualties. Thus, it is important to create awareness among people about the likely situations which can help managing it effectively. Lack of awareness often creates confusion and chaos; rumours add to the complexity of the situation. Thus, in order to minimize these, specialized agencies for disaster management like National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), who have adequate scientific training and expertise can organize live demonstrations of different situations that arise during a disaster and mock rescue operations through various reachable media directed to the common man and other stakeholders. It is worth noting that a few non-profit organizations like GeoHazards Society (GHS) are working towards making the country’s most vulnerable communities safer from natural and other hazards, through preparedness and mitigation. Congruently, disaster preparedness activities are to be designed and planned to minimize loss of life and damage by removing people and property from a threatened location and by facilitating timely and effective rescue, relief and rehabilitation in the affected area. Preparedness is the main way of reducing the impact of disasters. However, in a well-diversified country like India, it is apt to adopt society/community-based preparedness and management for the kind of possible disasters with priority in physical therapy practice management. The present paper focuses on the needs of creating awareness/warning system for the citizens about the impending danger. This research paper is based purely on content analysis constructed on secondary data. The paper highlights on creating awareness for a disaster-resilient future.