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9.8 Option - Disasters: 5. Emergency services
| Syllabus reference (October 2002 version) | ||
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| 5. Emergency services also assist in the prevention or minimisation of disasters | Students learn to:
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Students:
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Extract from Senior Science Stage 6 Syllabus (Amended October 2002). © Board of Studies, NSW.
[Edit: 22 Aug 08]
Prior learning: Science Stage 4-5: 4.10 d).
Background information: As long as people have lived in communities they have helped each other in emergencies. Today we have well trained professional teams to look after people and property in disasters as well as trained volunteers such as the Rural Fire Service and community organisations such as churches, the Red Cross and animal rescue groups.
identify the role of and account for the need for coordinated help services in times of potential disaster including
- police
- fire brigade
- ambulance
- State Emergency Service
- Rural Fire Service
- community organisations
There are a number of service teams that play important support roles during and after disasters. These are:
- The police whose role is to ensure peace and order are maintained during a disaster. This might include crowd control such as keeping onlookers away and keeping traffic flowing around the disaster. They will also often be called on to provide evidence in cases where an enquiry into the cause of a disaster is needed.
- Ambulance personnel, sometimes called 'paramedics', are trained to provide First Aid and emergency treatment. Their role is usually to ensure that victims of accidents or disasters are given treatment to ensure survival or to 'stabilise' their condition so that they can be transported to hospital to be given further treatment.
- The fire brigade whose role is to fight fires and /or assist with the rescue of injured or trapped people. Their role may also be to assist in the removal or control of hazardous chemicals at the site.
- State Emergency Services are called in when large scale emergencies occur. Their role then is to assist in search and rescue, assisting with evacuation procedures, providing relief supplies, aiding to secure properties against flood etc.
- The Rural Fire Service is usually staffed by volunteers who give up their spare time to be trained in fire fighting and rescue techniques. They are extremely important in fighting bushfires as they are usually the only people available to fight the fires. In country towns almost everyone belongs to the Fire Service as they all want to help their neighbours in an emergency.
- Community organisations play many varied roles. Some play a role mainly in organising community activities and providing volunteers services. They may organise collections of materials such as food, clothing or blankets when needed. They may also help organise emergency accommodation and emotional help for victims of disasters or their families.
assess impacts of technological developments on the warning that can be provided about impending disasters
- Some technological developments help provide warning of impending disasters while others help with activities during and after the disaster.
- Warning systems include:
- better monitoring systems to help predict weather, earthquake dangers, flood and bushfire danger
- improved communications networks using satellite systems, radio and telephone to detect and warn people of changing conditions.
- Support systems during and after disasters include:
- improved infrastructure such as roads to help transport
- improved paramedic facilities such as ambulance and search and rescue services.
- Technology has greatly improved the way in which society copes with disasters by providing early
warning signs.
- Technology has allowed warnings through early recognition of potential hazards in weather conditions, flooding, and even volcanic activity
- These early warnings rely on availability of broadcasting techniques such as radio and television.
gather and process information from first-hand and secondary sources to identify
- the phone numbers for the relevant services in the local region
- the disasters that each service deals with
- the sequence of coordinated help involving these services
- To gather information from secondary sources your teacher will provide you with a map of the local area around your school. On this map draw the location of (emergency) services such as ambulance, police, fire brigade, hospital and council offices. You could use the phone book to locate the address of these services.
- Process the information by preparing a database, showing name, location, contact phone and description of services provided for the emergency services in your area. You could find this information by looking on the web site of the organisation or phoning and speaking to the appropriate person.
- List any other organisations that may provide support in the case of an emergency.
- Draw up a flow chart to show how each of the emergency services would play a role in case of:
- a fire at your school
- a major traffic accident at an intersection near the local shop
- Check with one or more of these emergency services to see if they agree with the order you decided on. If they don't, ask them to give you the reasons why.
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