Working together: Developing disaster risk reduction first aid training in a post-earthquake Chinese context

Abstract

This brief review reports a current transdisciplinary practice by social work and nursing professionals working together with local stakeholders in a Chinese post-disaster context that is continually plagued by recurring secondary hazards. From a community psychosocial assessment in the village affected by recent landslides, the sense of insecurity posed by imminent landslides was apparent among the villagers. With the aim to reduce disaster risk, the collaboration focuses on providing first aid training using locally relevant knowledge and resources. Twenty relevant stakeholders were invited to help develop and attend the first-run of the program. This article explores the way social workers can apply transdisciplinary strategies to work with other professional practitioners and stakeholders in meeting disaster risk reduction needs in a Chinese remote village. One of the most apparent impacts of this approach is increasing the psychosocial well-being of the local residence as well as their preparedness in disasters.