What do Long Covid, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), Myopia, and Disaster Preparedness have in Common?
A lot...
Our eyes are one of our most valuable sensory organs, and they need not only soothing holistic training to maintain their essential connection to the external world and our soul. No, they are also indispensable for us in disaster situations and should protect our lives as much as possible.
Long Covid and ME/CFS (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) can lead to vision problems, including (severely) blurred vision and photosensitivity. Both Long Covid and ME/CFS can cause concentration issues that can affect reading and other visual tasks. Conjunctivitis, dry eyes, a feeling of foreign bodies in the eye, redness, increased tearing, and itching – all these eye problems can significantly impair disaster preparedness/disaster management, as they affect the ability to see clearly and act effectively. In disaster and emergency situations, clear vision is crucial for perceiving warning signals, reading and recognizing maps/information, and navigating through hazardous areas. Conjunctivitis and dry eyes can severely impact vision and reduce the ability to process visual information quickly and accurately. Eye fatigue can lead to diminished concentration and alertness, which can be especially problematic in stressful situations. In disaster management, quick and precise decisions are crucial. Exhausted eyes can lead to poor decision-making and slower reaction times. A feeling of foreign bodies in the eye, itching, and redness can be very uncomfortable and impair the ability to focus on important tasks. This is particularly critical in emergencies where quick responses are required. Increased tearing can massively impair vision and make it difficult to read important notices, documents, or maps. In a disaster situation, this can affect the ability to quickly grasp important information and respond accordingly. These symptoms can pose a significant challenge in emergencies where clear vision and quick responses are essential.
According to a recent study, myopia in children is reaching alarming levels. The global incidence of myopia is expected to exceed 740 million cases by 2050. Regular eye examinations are certainly advisable, and parents should be on the lookout for symptoms like headaches and vision problems early on, but EVERYONE should also take preventive measures.
But let's be honest, who immediately thinks of disaster management and disaster preparedness when talking about Long Covid, ME/CFS, and myopia?
Our MindGuardians do, and they will provide you with many important prevention tips. After all, it’s all about how well and safely you get through crisis situations. Of course, there are already many emergency exercise programs and plans, but many are not at all geared toward the crucial and pressing issues of Long Covid, ME/CFS, and myopia.
Let's not waste too much time thinking about what is missing or what needs to be done. Instead, let's be proactive in the HERE and NOW, practicing optimized resilience and preparedness.
Let's take off together!
Healthy eyes are especially important in disaster management, as they affect the ability to respond quickly and effectively to emergencies. Myopia can significantly impair this ability, as it affects long-distance vision, making it difficult to spot and react to dangers early. It can also limit participation in rescue operations since you might have trouble reading or seeing important information and instructions.
Myopia can have serious impacts on responsiveness in a disaster situation. Let’s look at an example:
Scenario: Earthquake Evacuation
After a major earthquake, you need to evacuate quickly. Your city is partly in ruins, and there are numerous dangers such as falling debris, exposed power lines, gas leaks, and many damaged buildings.
What challenges are we facing?
1. A person with severe myopia cannot recognize distant dangers, such as falling debris or unstable buildings, in time. This significantly increases the risk of injury to themselves or others. Another person with Long Covid simultaneously experiences severely blurred vision, double vision, and pronounced conjunctivitis.
2. There may be issues reading signs and instructions, i.e., signs from a distance are hard to read, and orientation and quick evacuation may be hindered. Clear instructions and signposts are critical in an evacuation situation for survival.
3. Emergency teams often rely on visual signals and communication to coordinate evacuations. A person with impaired vision could miss important visual cues, which could also affect the efficiency and safety of the evacuation.
Hopeless?
By no means!
We need to learn to rethink things and expand our disaster preparedness portfolio to include additional considerations.
Follow us and let's work together to find solutions and ways to strengthen your resilience...
