Ways in which paramedics cope with, and respond to, natural large-scale disasters

Abstract

This chapter examines the ways in which paramedics respond to, and cope with, the demands they face in regard to their role in naturally occurring large-scale disasters. In order to understand the methods employed by this group of professionals, it is first necessary to briefly highlight the model of coping that underpins the propositions included in this discussion. It is also important to examine the ways in which paramedics approach, cope with, and respond to, the stressful and/or traumatic events that feature in the course of their usual employ. To facilitate such a discussion, current literature is referred to. Perhaps even more pertinent though, we have included qualitative accounts from paramedics with respect to their experiences in the usual course of their work and accounts gathered from a group of Australian paramedics who responded to the Asian tsunami disaster at the end of 2004 and early 2005 as a recent example of these factors in attending to a large-scale natural disaster. The accounts are supplemented with data collected prior to and following their deployment to Banda Ache.