A case study of university mass casualty simulation with high school deaf students who sign

Jody H. Cripps; Elizabeth N. Austin; Leyla Craig

doi:10.5055/jem.0864

Authors

Jody H. Cripps, PhD https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4215-2593
Elizabeth N. Austin, PhD, MA, RN, CEN, CNE, CLNC
Leyla Craig, MA

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5055/jem.0864

Keywords:

emergency management, deaf people, emergency preparedness, emergency simulation, American Sign Language, mass casualty incident, cultural and linguistic awareness

Abstract

Deaf people who use signed languages are a cultural and linguistic minority. Previous studies involving healthcare and emergency medical service professionals and their interactions with deaf people within the United States and globally have demonstrated a disconnect and lack of trust. The researchers, in this study, explored an emergency preparedness and mass casualty response with deaf people at a university-run mass casualty simulation. Seven culturally deaf high school students from a local deaf school participated in this simulation. Deaf student responses on the survey reflected their experiences involving poor communication skills between health professionals, first responders, and deaf students. By adopting the whole community approach, the students’ experiences reinforce the need to include cultural and linguistic education training led by deaf people to increase communication skills among health professionals and first responders in supporting deaf people in emergencies.

Author Biographies

Jody H. Cripps, PhD

Department of Languages, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina

Elizabeth N. Austin, PhD, MA, RN, CEN, CNE, CLNC

Professor Emeritus, Department of Nursing, Towson University, Towson, Maryland

Leyla Craig, MA

Disability Inclusion and Engagement Officer, Fire and Rescue New South Wales; PhD Student, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

References

Chua AYK, Kaynak S, Foo SSB: An analysis of the delayed response to Hurricane Katrina through the lens of knowledge management. J Am Soc Inf Sci Technol. 2007; 58: 391-403. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/asi.20521

Cigler BA: The “big questions” of Katrina and the 2005 great flood of New Orleans. Pub Adm Rev. 2007; 67: 64-76. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-6210.2007.00814.x

Dyson ME: Come Hell or High Water: Hurricane Katrina and the Color of Disaster. New York: Basic Civitas, 2005.

Hsu S: Katrina report spreads blame. The Washington Post. Sunday, February 12, 2006.

Ink D: An analysis of the house select committee and White House reports on Hurricane Katrina. Pub Adm Rev. 2006; 66: 800-807. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-6210.2006.00648.x

Kettl DF: The worst is yet to come: Lessons from September 11 and Hurricane Katrina Report no. 05-01, Fels Gov Res Ser. 2005.

Koliba CJ, Mills RM, Zia A: Accountability in governance networks: An assessment of public, private, and nonprofit emergency management practices following Hurricane Katrina. Pub Adm Rev. 2011; 71: 210-220. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-6210.2011.02332.x

Mashaw JL: Accountability and institutional design: Some thoughts on the grammar of governance In Dowdle MW (ed.): Public Accountability: Designs, Dilemmas and Experiences. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2006: 115-156.

Schneider SK: Administrative breakdowns in the governmental response to Hurricane Katrina. Pub Adm Rev. 2005; 65: 515-516. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-6210.2005.00478.x

White B: Disaster relief for deaf persons: Lessons from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Rev Dis Stud. 2006; 2(3): 1-9.

Bea K, Halchin E, Hogue H, et al.: Federal Emergency Management Policy Changes after Hurricane Katrina: A Summary of Statutory Provisions. Library of Congress. Washington, DC: Congressional Research Service, 2006.

Federal Emergency Management Agency: A Whole Community Approach to Emergency Management: Principle, Themes, and Pathways for Action FDOC 104-008-1. Washington, DC: US Department of Homeland Security, 2011.

Klima ES, Bellugi U: The Signs of Language. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1979.

Sandler W, Lillo-Martin D: Sign Language and Linguistic Universals. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2006. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781139163910

Stokoe WC: Sign language structure: An outline of the visual communication systems of the American deaf. Soc Am Sign Lang J. 2018; 2: 11-59.

Valli C, Lucas C, Mulrooney KJ, et al.: Linguistics of American Sign Language: An Introduction. Washington, DC: Gallaudet University Press, 2011.

Wilbur RB: American Sign Language and Sign Systems. Baltimore: University Park Press, 1979.

Padden C: The deaf community and the culture of deaf people. In Baker C, Battison R (eds.): Sign Language and the Deaf Community. Silver Spring: National Association of the Deaf, 1980: 89-103.

Rutherford SD: The culture of American deaf people. Sign Lang Stud. 1988; 59: 129-147. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1353/sls.1988.0022

Cripps JH, Cooper SB, Austin E: Emergency preparedness with people who sign. J Emerg Manag. 2016; 14: 101-111. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5055/jem.2016.0277

Roberts G: Get ready: A model for deaf community leadership and preparedness. Aust J Emerg Manag. 2018; 33: 7-9.

Takayama K: Disaster relief and crisis intervention with deaf communities: Lessons learned from the Japanese deaf community. J Soc Work Disabil Rehabil. 2017; 16: 247-260. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/1536710X.2017.1372241

Chekijian S, Kinsman J, Taylor RA, et al.: Association between patient-physician gender concordance and patient experience scores: Is there gender bias? Am J Emerg Med. 2021; 45: 476-482. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajem.2020.09.090

Crowe RP, Krebs W, Cash RE, et al.: Females and minority racial/ethnic groups remain underrepresented in emergency medical services: A ten-year assessment, 2008–2017. Prehosp Emerg Care. 2020; 24: 180-187. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/10903127.2019.1634167

Rudman JS, Farcas A, Salazar GA, et al.: Diversity, equity, and inclusion in the United States emergency medical services workforce: A scoping review. Prehosp Emerg Care. 2022; 26: 1-13.

Stanford FC: The importance of diversity and inclusion in the healthcare workforce. J Nat Med Assoc. 2020; 112: 247-249. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnma.2020.03.014

Calgaro E, Craig N, Craig L, et al.: Silent no more: Identifying and breaking through the barriers that d/deaf people face in responding to hazards and disasters. Int J Disaster Risk Reduct. 2021; 57: 102156. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2021.102156

Foltz A, Shank C: Deaf sign-language using patients’ experiences in health emergencies in Wales: Perspectives for improving interactions. Front Commun. 2020; 5: 572855. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fcomm.2020.572855

Leeson L: Ophelia, Emma, and the beast from the east effortful engaging and the provision of sign language interpreting in emergencies. Disaster Prev Manag. 2020; 29: 187-199. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/DPM-01-2019-0007

Rotoli JM, Hancock S, Park C, et al.: Emergency medical services communication barriers and the deaf American sign language user. Prehosp Emerg Care. 2022; 26: 437-445. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/10903127.2021.1936314

Takayama K, Craig L, Cooper A, et al.: Exploring deaf students’ disaster awareness and preparedness in US higher education settings: Implications for university-level DRR policy and programming. Int J Disaster Risk Reduct. 2022; 83: 103409. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2022.103409

Cripps JH, Cooper SB, Evitts PM, et al.: Diagnosing and treating signed language disorders: A new perspective. CICSD. 2016; 43: 223-237. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1044/cicsd_43_F_223

Kung MS, Lozano A, Covas VJ, et al.: Assessing medical students’ knowledge of the deaf culture and community in Puerto Rico: A descriptive study. J Med Educ Curric Dev. 2021; 8: 2382120521992326. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/2382120521992326

Lumsden K, Black A: Sorry, I’m dead, it’s too late now’: Barriers faced by D/deaf citizens when accessing police services. Disabil Soc. 2022; 37: 476-495. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09687599.2020.1829555

McAnnany K, Shah AK: With their own hands: A community lawyering approach to improving law enforcement practices in the deaf community. Valparaiso Univ Law Rev. 2011; 45: 875-925.

World Association of Sign Language Interpreters & World Federation of the Deaf: Communication During National Disasters and Other Mass Emergencies for Deaf People Who Use Signed Language. Collingwood/Helsinki: World Association of Sign Language Interpreters & World Federation of the Deaf, 2015.

Available at https://www.gov.uk/government/news/british-signlanguage-bill-set-to-clear-final-stage-before-becoming-law. Accessed May 21, 2024

Catedral Mamon MA, Vargas Suba RA, Son IL: Disaster risk reduction knowledge of grade 11 students: Impact of senior high school disaster education in the Philippines. Int J Health Syst Disaster Manag. 2017; 5: 69-74.

Adams LM, Canclini SB: Disaster readiness: A community-university partnership. OJIN. 2008; 13. Available at https://ojin.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/ANAMarketplace/ANAPeriodicals/OJIN/TableofContents/vol132008/No3Sept08/ArticlePreviousTopic/DisasterReadiness.html. Accessed May 21, 2024. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3912/OJIN.Vol13No03PPT04

Austin EN, Bastepe-Gray SE, Nelson HW, et al.: Pediatric mass-casualty education: Experiential learning through university-sponsored disaster simulation. J Emerg Nurs. 2014; 40: 428-433. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jen.2014.05.015

Austin EN, Hannafin N, Nelson HW: Pediatric simulation in graduate and undergraduate nursing education. J Pediatr Nurs. 2013; 28: 393-399. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedn.2012.12.004

Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems: The Maryland Medical Protocols for EMS Providers. Maryland: Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems, 2015.

Caldwell-Harris CL, Hoffmeister RJ: Learning a second language via print: On the logical necessity of a fluent first language. Front Commun. 2022: 7: 161. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fcomm.2022.900399

Hoffmeister RJ, Caldwell-Harris CL: Acquiring English as a second language via print: The task for deaf children. Cognition. 2014; 132: 229-242. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cognition.2014.03.014

Padden C, Ramsey C: Reading ability in signing deaf children. Top Lang Disord. 1998; 18: 30-46. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/00011363-199808000-00005

Singleton JL, Morgan D, DiGello E, et al.: Vocabulary use by low, moderate, and high ASL-proficient writers compared to hearing ESL and monolingual speakers. J Deaf Stud Deaf Educ. 2004; 9: 86-103. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/deafed/enh011

Supalla SJ: A sketch on reading methodology for deaf children. Soc Am Sign Lang J. 2017; 1: 35-55.

Lane H: The Mask of Benevolence: Disabiling the Deaf Community. 2nd ed. San Diego: DawnSignPress, 1999.

Supalla SJ, Small A, Cripps JS: American sign language for everyone: Considerations for universal design and youth identity. Soc Am Sign Lang J. 2020; 4: 43-53.

Rosen RS: American sign language: Access, benefits, and quality. Soc Am Sign Lang J. 2017; 1: 7-34. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203762974-1