2. Vulnerable – the state of being
unprotected against harm, injury or
attack
3. Vulnerable Groups
Groups with Special Needs
Children/infants
Older persons
PWDs (physical/mental/substance
abuse/developmental)
Women
4. Vulnerable Groups
First Responders/disaster response
personnel
People with part traumatic experiences
Ethnic & cultural groups
Parents w/ dependent children
Economically disadvantaged groups
7. Vulnerable Groups
Helping a Child
Help by helping the parents
Keep familiar routines
Talk about what happened (as appropriate)
Find opportunities to participate in
decision-making
8. Vulnerable Groups
Seek professional help when the child is experiencing
typical stress reactions longer than 1 month after the
Critical event or any of the following:
Suicidal or homicidal ideation/behaviour
Hopelessness/helplessness
Physical problems
Alcohol or drug abuse
hyperactivity
10. How to know when tour children has
recovered?
Although people deal with trauma in very many
different ways, some signs of eventual recovery
include:
The ability to talk about the tragedy openly with
family and friends;
The ability to effectively manage and cope with
emotions that may be associated with the tragedy;
11. How to know when tour children has
recovered?
The ability to resume usual day-to-day routines;
and
The ability to resume social and academic
activities in an effective manner.
12. Vulnerable Groups
The Elderly
Typical reactions:
Wish to connect with family, past friends
Increased dependences on family, refusing assistance
from authorities
Fear of mortality
Negative view of the future
13. Vulnerable Groups
The Elderly
Typical reactions:
Regression
Use of denial
Immediate fear-anger-frustration
Concentration & communication difficulties
Physiological responses
14. Vulnerable Groups
Helping the Elderly
Ensure safety
Give factual information
Reassure by giving information about normal reactions
Be supportive & build confidence
Identify secure attachments & relationships
Talk about the event
15. Vulnerable Groups
Helping the Elderly
Be aware of cultural backgrounds
Facilities access to aid & support services
Ensure that they are not isolated
Establish routine
Help them to maintain their sense of community &
preserve cohesion
16. Vulnerable Groups
Person with Disabilities
People who have disability are “people first”
Their needs & reactions going to be the same as others.
But, their disabilities/problems associated with their
disability can create special challenges for both the person
& those who work with them.
17. Vulnerable Groups
Person with Disabilities
After a disaster, people with disabilities:
May need assistance in negotiating the “second disaster”
May need some accommodations within shelters
May need assistance in replacing lost prescriptions.
18. Vulnerable Groups
Remember when you seek advice to:
Always link with existing services to their disabilities
Seek advice if these are evident or suspected:
Suicidal ideation
Homicidal ideation
Depression (more than 2 weeks)
Active hallucinations/delusions
Rage : Aggression
Inability to care for self or carry out ADL
19. Vulnerable Groups
Women
Tend to be more vulnerable to psychosocial effects of the
disaster & likely to have more psychosocial problems than
their male counterparts
More prone to depression & anxiety & psychosomatic
signs
20. Vulnerable Groups
Strategies to help
Involve them in community activities
Involve them in ongoing relief activities
Encourage them to form self-help groups to find ways
coping with their feeling & current situations
Extend special care to pregnant & nursing mothers
22. Sources of Stress for Disaster Workers
1. Disaster Event stressors
Personal loss/injury
Traumatic stimuli/gruesome
Sights/activities
23. Sources of Stress for Disaster Workers
2. Occupational Pressures
Time pressure/work overload
Physical/emotional demands
Work environment
24. Sources of Stress for Disaster Workers
3. Organizational Pressures
Role conflict/ambiguity
Confusion on the chain of command
Organizational conflict
26. Additional Challenges for helpers
Feeling guilty over privileged access to food,
shelter, etc.
Facing moral & ethical dilemmas
Being exposed to anger & lack of gratitude
Being detached from personal support systems
Being frustrated with policies & decisions of
supervisors