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Safety Needs of People With Disabilities During Earthquakes

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 October 2017

Aidin Aryankhesal ,
Shahrzad Pakjouei  and
Mohammad Kamali
Aidin Aryankhesal
Affiliation:
Department of Health Services Management, School of Health Management and Information Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Shahrzad Pakjouei*
Affiliation:
Health Management and Economics Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Department of Health in Disasters and Emergencies, School of Health Management and Information Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Mohammad Kamali
Affiliation:
School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
*
Correspondence and reprint requests to Shahrzad Pakjouei, PhD, School of Health Management and Information Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Rashid yasemi St., Valiasr Ave., Tehran 1996713883, Iran (e-mail: sh_pakjouei@yahoo.com).
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Abstract

Objective

The needs of people with disabilities are not taken into account during disasters, and there is no or little preparation for them. Hence, such people are very anxious about their personal safety during disasters. The aim of this study was to explain the safety needs of people with disabilities during earthquakes.

Methods

This qualitative study was conducted with purposive sampling. A total of 12 people with movement disability, aged between 18 and 60 years, and with an experience of facing earthquakes, participated in semi-structured interviews. Thematic analysis was used.

Results

The safety needs of people with disabilities were categorized into three phases: those before an earthquake were considering building codes and resistant construction, building safe and resistant-to-climate-change shelters, and securing the room at the home and workplace; that during an earthquake was the existence of personal protection facilities; and those after an earthquake were adaptation of bathrooms in secure areas, prioritizing conex containers instead of tents, and sheltering in a safe and vermin-free area.

Conclusions

The sudden death of people with disabilities during disasters is preventable through proper planning and preparedness of emergency personnel. Hence, identifying the safety needs of these people and inclusion of such plans in disasters management systems can assure safety for people with disabilities during disasters. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2018;12:615–621)

Keywords

people with disabilitiessafetyneedsshelterearthquakes
Type
Original Research
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 12 , Issue 5 , October 2018 , pp. 615 - 621
Copyright
Copyright © Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc. 2017 

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