Cretikos Michelle, Eastwood Keith, Dalton Craig, Merritt Tony, Tuyl Frank, Winn Linda, Durrheim David
NSW Public Health Officer Training Program, Centre for Epidemiology and Research, NSW Department of Health, New South Wales, Australia.
BMC Public Health. 2008 Jun 4;8:195. doi: 10.1186/1471-2458-8-195.
A storm-related disaster in New South Wales, Australia in June 2007 caused infrastructure damage, interrupted essential services, and presented major public health risks. We investigated household disaster preparedness and information sources used before and during the disaster.
Rapid cluster survey of 320 randomly selected households in Newcastle and Lake Macquarie, New South Wales, Australia.
227 households (71%) responded to the survey. By the day before the storm, 48% (95%CI 40-57%) of households were aware of a storm warning, principally through television (67%; 58-75%) and radio (57%; 49-66%) announcements. Storm preparations were made by 42% (28-56%) of these households.Storm information sources included: radio (78%; 68-88%); family, friends, colleagues and neighbours (50%; 40-60%); and television (41%; 30-52%). Radio was considered more useful than television (62%; 51-73% vs. 29%; 18-40%), even in households where electricity supply was uninterrupted (52%; 31-73% vs. 41%; 20-63%). Only 23% (16-30%) of households were aware that the local government-operated radio network has a designated communication role during disasters. A battery-operated household radio and appropriate batteries were available in 42% (34-50%) of households, while only 23% (16-29%) had all of: a torch, battery-operated radio, appropriate batteries, mobile phone, emergency contact list and first aid equipment.
Broadcast media are important information sources immediately before and during disasters. Health services should promote awareness of broadcast networks' disaster role, especially the role of radio, and encourage general household disaster preparedness. A rapid cluster survey conducted shortly after a natural disaster provided practical, robust information for disaster planning.
2007年6月，澳大利亚新南威尔士州发生了一场与风暴相关的灾难，造成基础设施损坏，基本服务中断，并带来了重大公共卫生风险。我们调查了家庭在灾难发生前和期间的备灾情况以及所使用的信息来源。
对澳大利亚新南威尔士州纽卡斯尔和麦夸里湖随机抽取的320户家庭进行快速整群调查。
227户家庭（71%）回复了调查。在风暴来临前一天，48%（95%可信区间40 - 57%）的家庭知晓风暴预警，主要通过电视（67%；58 - 75%）和广播（57%；49 - 66%）公告。其中42%（28 - 56%）的家庭进行了风暴防范准备。风暴信息来源包括：广播（78%；68 - 88%）；家人、朋友、同事和邻居（50%；40 - 60%）；以及电视（41%；30 - 52%）。广播被认为比电视更有用（62%；51 - 73%对29%；18 - 40%），即使在电力供应未中断的家庭中也是如此（52%；31 - 73%对41%；20 - 63%）。只有23%（16 - 30%）的家庭知晓当地政府运营的广播网络在灾难期间具有指定的通信作用。42%（34 - 50%）的家庭备有电池供电的家用收音机和合适的电池，而只有23%（16 - 29%）的家庭具备以下所有物品：手电筒、电池供电的收音机、合适的电池、手机、紧急联系人名单和急救设备。
广播媒体是灾难发生前和期间的重要信息来源。卫生服务机构应提高对广播网络在灾难中作用的认识，尤其是广播的作用，并鼓励家庭进行一般备灾。在自然灾害后不久进行的快速整群调查为灾难规划提供了实用、可靠的信息。
