In this segment the Disaster Podcast Team looks at what it takes to keep responders going when the going gets tough. Medical oversight and care for the responders themselves is perhaps one of the most important things to keep the teams in the field where they can do the most good.

This care starts with assessment before the deployment even begins as team members give a frank appraisal of their own health in order to avoid carrying an illness into the field and the close living quarters they’ll soon be living under. Once in the field, the most common problems revolve around foot care, bumps, aches and bruises as the teams begin the rigorous work to serve the communities affected by disasters.

As the numbers of injuries and illnesses reported adds up, it can be an indicator of the overall readiness state of the team and their ability to function to peak efficiency. Eventually the team may need to take a break or pull themselves off the line for a time period to get back to a level of health that allows them to function again.