Changing Paradigms of Disaster Management in Pandemic: An Experiential Learning

Abstract

Abstract Background: Disasters are ubiquitous in nature, and more importantly, disasters do not happen in a staggered manner nor in succession. It may erupt, attack, and happen altogether in one frame of time, abruptly, or cascade. Owing to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the existing human race has metamorphosed its culture from offices to work from home, cash to cashless transactions, direct retail shopping to e-commerce, socialization to social distancing, hospital-based care to domiciliary care, and much more to register. This necessitated evolution of our disaster management practices established in the pre-COVID era to be reconfigured and be made implementable in the ongoing pandemic scenario, to ensure appropriate management of disasters without bargaining the management of pandemic. Aim and Objectives: With this intent, the authors of this study participated in a multinational full-scale exercise to study, identify, and recommend changes in medical preparedness during disaster management while handling pandemic. Methodology and Results: The authors have identified key focus areas such as prehospital care and hospital-based care, which further include site and size identification, command and control, patient reception and holding areas, advanced treatment area, laboratory facilities, heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, medical gas pipeline systems, electric supply and lighting, and transportation. At all these places, COVID-19 best practices, public health aspects along with telemedicine, and communication have been emphasized. Conclusion: The authors have tried to decipher the findings to utilize them during the impact of another disaster. The authors have also tried to expand the horizon of the environment by bringing out the fundamentals being faced during such events for the betterment of society.