What it means
In health care it usually means emergency or disaster preparedness: the plans, drills, supplies and training that let hospitals, communities and families respond to events such as storms, pandemics, mass shootings and chemical spills. Nurses take part in planning, triage and caring for many clients at once.
For the nurse
Know your facility's emergency plan and your role in it. Teach families to keep an emergency kit with water, food, medicines and copies of important papers.
Related terms
community health
The health of the people who live in a certain area or share something in common, and the work done to improve it.