Public Health Nursing Practice Exam

What is the primary responsibility of local Red Cross chapters during disasters?

1. Providing first aid

2. Setting up shelter operations

3. Coordinating community health assessments

4. Training nurse volunteers in disaster response

The correct answer is: Setting up shelter operations

The primary responsibility of local Red Cross chapters during disasters is setting up shelter operations. This role is critical as it directly addresses the immediate needs of individuals and families who are displaced due to emergency situations, such as natural disasters or large-scale incidents. By establishing temporary shelters, the Red Cross ensures that affected populations have a safe place to stay, access to food, and basic necessities during a challenging time. This function emphasizes the organization's mission to alleviate human suffering by providing critical support in emergencies. While providing first aid is an important function of the Red Cross, especially in the early response phase, it is generally part of a broader range of services that includes shelter operations. Coordinating community health assessments and training nurse volunteers, while significant for overall disaster response preparedness, typically support a more extensive public health infrastructure rather than serving as the immediate action taken during a disaster. Hence, the central focus during disasters aligns more closely with the establishment and management of shelter operations to meet pressing human needs.