Christian Okonye

PHSC 110
Fred Heck

Nutrition and earthquakes: experience and recommendations

Key Question: The extent of harm caused by earthquakes is determined by the timescale and
how the community handles such a disaster. In addition, what are the odds of earthquakes greatly
affecting the health status, and availability of water, food, shelter, and health supplies to victims
and if a system is set up for provision of victims needs?
Key information (facts, experiences, and data): For proper care of victims, there is a necessity to
set up a system/organization whom shall take responsibility to distribute aid supplies. First off,
victims are to be divided into two groups of high priority and mid-high priority where those of
the high priority groups are infants, pregnant women, and the severely injured. The mid-high
priority group is individuals who only lost their location of living, workplace, and mainly the less
injured folks. Although every victim is in need of some kind of aid and support in such a time of
crisis so before aid supplies are distributed to home shelter, victims should try the best to secure
water and food within their reach. However, when such a disaster takes place; some victims
could stray from survival via foods and water due to lack of an appetite to sustain their energy
because of the great harm caused to their families and properties. As a result, dehydration and
impairment to health is triggered.
In developed nations, earthquakes destroy water-supply infrastructures buried beneath earths
surface causing fractured water and sewer line dwindles, so the water coming through is not fit
for consumption. While in underdeveloped countries, there arent much infrastructural problems
but fissures that open the earth can affect water tables.

Christian Okonye
PHSC 110
Fred Heck

Its been reported that peoples blood sugar and blood pressure levels worsen at times of natural
disasters, but also reported is that those who are able to control their food intake at emergency
shelters have a better chance of gaining good blood sugar control. Therefore, its a necessity for
nutritional intake to be proactively supplemented even in non-emergency periods since poor
nutritional status leads to higher morbidity and decreased immunity from diseases such diarrhea,
malaria or tuberculosis. Also for the fact that symptoms of such diseases may prove difficult to
notice, nutritional intervention and proper medical care should be provided or seek.

Conclusions: After an earthquake, a nutrition program should ensure adequate food and supply
for the entire population affected. Emergency feeding should not only satisfy hunger but also
consider the main nutritional needs for different age groups and their conditions, if not
malnutrition might occur thus leading to morbidity.
Earth System spheres: The article relates to both hydrosphere,
atmosphere and biosphere in the sense that, interaction between
earthquakes and hydrosphere results in changes of rivers and stream
(expansion and contraction of the aquifer) which is responsible for damages
of constructions, forest and flooding. Atmospheric effects caused by
earthquakes are mainly gas emissions such as methane into the atmosphere,
which degrades the ozone layer. Lastly the death of people, plant life,

Christian Okonye
PHSC 110
Fred Heck

animals and ecosystem disruption is how it relates to the biosphere.

Reflect: Personally, I have gained a very useful knowledge on how not only
people are victimized by earthquakes but how it affects their nutritional
balance and what steps can be taken to ensure safe health and well-being of
these victims in times like these.