Disaster Health Management
A Primer for Students and Practitioners

Disaster health is an emerging field that focuses on developing prevention, preparation, response and recovery systems for dealing with health problems that result from a disaster. As disasters worldwide differ in their nature, scope and cultural context, a thorough understanding of the fundamental tenets of sound disaster health management is essential for both students and practitioners to participate confidently and effectively in the field.

Disaster Health Management is the first comprehensive textbook to provide a standard guide to terminology and management systems across the entire spectrum of disaster health. Authored by experienced educators, researchers and practitioners in disaster health management, this textbook provides an authoritative overview of:

• The conceptual basis for disaster management
• Systems and structures for disaster management
• Managing disasters through the continuum of preparedness, response and recovery
• The variations associated with both natural and technological disasters
• The strategic considerations associated with leadership, research, education and future directions.

Using Australasian systems and structures as examples of generic principles which will find application globally, Disaster Health Management is an essential text for both undergraduate and postgraduate students, as well as for professionals involved in all aspects of disaster management.

Part A: The Conceptual Basis of Disaster Management

1. Definitions and Terminology

2. Disaster Trends and Impact

3. Concepts and Principles

Part B: Key Elements of Disaster Management

4. Disaster Management Systems

5. Legal and Ethical Aspects of Disaster Management

6. Risk and its Management

7. Business Continuity Management (BCM)

8. Risk and Crisis Communication During Health Disasters

9. Community Engagement

Part C: Healthcare Considerations

10. The Healthcare System and Disaster Management

11. Healthcare Considerations in Disasters

Part D: Getting Ready

12. Prevention and Mitigation

13. Planning

14. Preparedness

Part E: Incident Management

15. Incident Assessment and Evaluation

16. Incident Management

17. External Assistance in Disasters

Part F: Recovering

18. Community Recovery

19. Psychosocial Aspects of Disasters

Part G: Unique Challenges of Particular Disasters

20. Natural Disasters

21. Manmade Disasters

22. Complex Events

Part H: Strategic Considerations

23. Leadership

24. Evaluation and Learning 25. Education, Training and Research 26. Future Challenges

Gerry FitzGerald is Professor of Public Health in the Faculty of Health at Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Australia, and Director of the Centre for Emergency and Disaster Management.

Mike Tarrant holds adjunct appointments including Associate Professor in the Faculty of Health at QUT and in the Department of Tropical Medicine at James Cook University, Townsville, Australia.

Peter Aitken is an Associate Professor in the School of Public Health, Tropical Medicine and Rehabilitation Sciences at James Cook University, Australia.

Marie Fredriksen is Lecturer in the Faculty of Health at QUT and a Paramedic with the Queensland Ambulance Service, Australia.