34.7: Key Terms

aftershock

smaller earthquake that follows the main shock of a larger earthquake

anthrax

serious infectious disease caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis

biological disaster

wide range of events, such as an infectious disease outbreak, a pandemic, or a bioterrorism incident

bioterrorism

intentional release of a biological agent, such as bacteria, viruses, or toxins, intended to cause harm to individuals, populations, or economies

black tag

patients with critical injuries who are not expected to survive given the available resources and medical priorities

chemical hazard

diverse array of substances that can pose risks to human health and the environment

COVID-19

respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2

cultural of preparedness

proactive efforts made by individuals, communities, organizations, and institutions to understand, respect, and integrate diverse cultural perspectives, values, beliefs, and practices into disaster preparedness, response, and recovery efforts

cyberattack

deliberate, malicious attempts to disrupt, damage, or gain unauthorized access to computer systems, networks, or electronic devices

earthquake

sudden and violent shaking of the ground caused by the movement of tectonic plates beneath the earth's surface

Ebola virus disease (EVD)

highly infectious and often deadly viral disease caused by the Ebola virus, commonly known as Ebola

epidemic

occurrence of a disease in a community or region at a rate that exceeds what is normally expected

flash flood

rapid and extreme flooding event characterized by a sudden onset of high water levels, often with little to no warning

green tag

patients with minor injuries or those who require minimal medical intervention

H1N1 influenza virus

subtype of influenza A virus that can cause respiratory illness in humans

incident command system (ICS)

central hub for incident management activities, housing key personnel, resources, and equipment necessary for coordinating response efforts

influenza

caused by influenza viruses, a contagious respiratory illness that affects the nose, throat, and lungs

landslide

geological event characterized by the movement of a mass of rock, earth, or debris down a slope under the influence of gravity

mass casualty triage

systematic process used by health-care professionals to prioritize and categorize injured individuals during a mass casualty incident based on the severity of their injuries and the likelihood of survival

mitigation phase

stage in disaster management characterized by efforts to minimize or mitigate the impact of a disaster on individuals, communities, and infrastructure

mixed epidemic

combination of both a point source epidemic and a propagated transmission epidemic pattern

National Weather Service (NWS)

agency within the United States federal government that is responsible for providing weather forecasts, warnings, and other meteorological information to the public, businesses, and government agencies

nuclear disaster

range of catastrophic events involving the release of radioactive materials, each presenting unique challenges and risks to human health and the environment

pandemic

outbreak of a disease that affects a high proportion of the population across a large geographic location

point source epidemic

type of epidemic where a large number of individuals are exposed to the infectious agent at the same time and develop symptoms within a relatively short period

preparedness phase

stage in disaster management where proactive measures are taken to enhance readiness and response capabilities before a disaster occurs

propagated epidemic

type of epidemic where a disease is transmitted from person to person over an extended period, leading to sustained transmission within a population

radiological disaster

range of events involving the release of radioactive materials into the environment, posing risks to human health and the ecosystem

recovery phase

period following a disaster when efforts are made to restore affected communities, infrastructure, and economies to a state of normalcy or to a condition better than before the disaster occurred

red tag

patients with life-threatening injuries who require immediate medical attention to survive

response phase

immediate period following the occurrence of a disaster when emergency measures are activated to address the immediate needs of individuals, communities, and infrastructure affected by the disaster

storm surge

water from the ocean pushed ashore by the heavy winds and can cause widespread flooding and bring ocean life inland

technological disaster

broad range of events with far-reaching implications for public health and safety

tornado warning

urgent message issued by the National Weather Service (NWS) when a tornado has been detected by radar or spotted by trained observers, and there is an imminent threat to life and property in a specific area

tornado watch

alert issued by the National Weather Service (NWS) when weather conditions are favorable for the development of tornadoes in a specified area; it is issued in advance to provide early notice and allow people to prepare for possible tornado activity

triage tag

color-coded or numbered identifiers used by health-care professionals during mass casualty incidents to categorize and prioritize patients based on the severity of their injuries or medical conditions

tsunami

series of large ocean waves caused by the displacement of a large volume of water, typically as a result of an underwater earthquake, volcanic eruption, landslide, or meteorite impact

wildfire

uncontrolled and often fast-spreading fire that occurs in forests, grasslands, or other wild land areas

yellow tag

patients with serious injuries that are not immediately life-threatening and can wait for medical care without compromising their survival chances