March 2016

WCPT report

The role of physical therapists in disaster management

Earthquake, Haiti - William Daniels/Handicap International

Notes:

The terms physical therapy/therapist and physiotherapy/physiotherapist refer to the same profession

and are used interchangeably in this document. In case studies and examples, the professional title

relating to the country concerned is used.

Acknowledgements

WCPT gratefully acknowledges the following for their contribution:

The project team: Peter Skelton1 Catherine Sykes

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Contributors: Alice Harvey (Handicap International); Viviane Hasselman (Swiss Agency for

Development and Cooperation, SDC); Chiara Retis (Handicap International); Nishchal Shakya (Nepal

Physiotherapy Association); Ito Tominori (Japan Physical Therapy Association); Christine Ruedas,

Cheryl Ann 'Tchai' T. Xavier (Independent Consultant, Philippines).

The project advisory group: Masaji Kajimura, alternates Kaori Nishiyama, Ito Tominori (Japan

Physical Therapy Association), Ilan Kelman (University College, London), Pauline Kleinitz (World

Health Organization Western Pacific Regional Office), Royston Mercado (Philippine Physical Therapy

Association), Barbara Rau (International Committee of the Red Cross), Jan Reinhardt (Sichuan

University, China), Ricardo Fernandez-Sanchez (Mdicins Sans Frontires), Margot Skinner (WCPT

Executive Committee), Michiel Steenbeek (CBM International).

Technical review team: Diane Hiscock (Help Age International), Aleema Shivji, Wendy Foo, Eric

Weerts, Berangere Gohy (Handicap International), Jody-Anne Mills (WHO), Mike Landry (Duke

University) Philip Sheppard (International Organization for Migration)

Editor: Simon Crompton

Design: Mia Lockner

Members of the WCPT Executive Committee 2011-2015: Marilyn Moffat, Emma Strokes, Margot

Skinner, Sandra Thornhill, Joyce Mothabeng, Mabel Espinel Gonzalez, Johnny Kuhr (2011-2014),

John Xerri de Caro (2014-2015)

WCPT Secretariat: Brenda Myers, Tracy Bury, Catherine Sykes.

Date:

March 2016

Citation:

World Confederation for Physical Therapy. WCPT report: The role of physical therapists in disaster

management. London, UK: WCPT; 2016

World Confederation for Physical Therapy 2016

1 Handicap International

2 World Confederation for Physical Therapy

William Daniels/Handicap Internat ional

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Table of contents

Table of contents ............................................................................................................................. 1

Introduction ........................................................................................................................................... 3

Context ............................................................................................................................................ 3

About this report .............................................................................................................................. 3

Summary ................................................................................................................................................ 4

1. Preparedness: ......................................................................................................................... 4

2. Response: ............................................................................................................................... 5

3. Recovery: ................................................................................................................................ 6

Part 1: Background ............................................................................................................................... 7

Defining disasters ............................................................................................................................ 7

Hazards ........................................................................................................................................... 8

The history of rehabilitation in humanitarian responses .................................................................. 9

The impact of disasters on populations ......................................................................................... 11

Quantifying injuries: ....................................................................................................................... 12

Part 2: The role of physical therapists in disasters ......................................................................... 17

The disaster continuum ................................................................................................................. 17

1. Preparedness ............................................................................................................................ 18

Global preparedness frameworks ............................................................................................ 18

The role of physical therapy in disaster preparedness ............................................................ 19

The role of physical therapy in planning and coordination ....................................................... 19

Advocacy .................................................................................................................................. 23

Stockpiling equipment and supplies ......................................................................................... 24

Training..................................................................................................................................... 25

Guidelines on physical therapy in disaster preparedness ........................................................ 27

The evidence on physical therapy in disaster preparedness ................................................... 28

2. Response .................................................................................................................................. 30

Global response frameworks ................................................................................................... 31

The role of physical therapy in disaster response .................................................................... 35

Management of injuries in austere environments .................................................................... 41

Coordination of the rehabilitation response.............................................................................. 44

Clinical practice in the response phase .................................................................................... 45

Guidelines on rehabilitation in disaster response .................................................................... 49

The evidence on rehabilitation in disaster response ................................................................ 53

Other ways physical therapists can be involved in disaster response ..................................... 53

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3. Recovery ................................................................................................................................... 55

Global recovery frameworks .................................................................................................... 56

The role of physical therapy in disaster recovery ..................................................................... 56

Guidelines on rehabilitation in disaster recovery ..................................................................... 61

The evidence on rehabilitation in disaster recovery ................................................................. 61

Vulnerable groups .................................................................................................................... 62

Reference ............................................................................................................................................. 67

Selected definitions ....................................................................................................................... 67

Selected abbreviations ............................................................................................................... 70

References .................................................................................................................................... 71

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Introduction

Context

WCPT encourages its member organisations to facilitate the contribution of physical therapists to

national and local disaster preparedness and management strategies and provides a range of

resources on its website, including a policy statement and information to support physical therapists

specialising in humanitarian responses to disaster. These are among the most accessed and

downloaded resources.

Discussions between WCPT and physical therapists involved in humanitarian responses identified a

need to advocate for the presence of rehabilitation professionals, including physical therapists, in all

phases of disaster management. There is a need to strengthen their role in preparedness, to promote

their role in emergency medical teams (EMT), and to affirm the need for the establishment or

development of physical therapy services in disaster areas.

This led to the formation of a project team to develop a report on the topic. The team