FIRST RESPONDERS IN REGIONAL DISASTERS A SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY Gerhard Chroust, J.Kepler Univ., Linz, Austria (
[email protected]) Günther Ossimitz, Alpen-Adria University Klagenfurt, Klagenfurt, Austria Markus Roth, Creative Bits, Traun, Austria Nadine Sturm, Research Institute of the Red Cross Austria, Wien, Austria Peter Ziehesberger, Ziehesberger Elektronik, Neuhofen/Krems, Austria ABSTRACT Today’s catastrophes (many of them man-made or at least triggered by human acti- vity) seemingly endanger an increasing number of humans in large geographic areas in numerous different ways, calling for more attention concerning appropriate reactions. We discuss what constitutes a ’disaster’ and analyze different response types (Flight/Run away, Fight/Intervene, Freeze, Submit/Sustain/Endure, Ignore/Deny). Taking a closer look at in- terventions as the classical Fight/Intervene reaction, we investigate interventions from se- veral view points: systemic (bringing a system back to its domain of viability), process- oriented (characterizing an intervention as a set interlinked process steps), organizational (identifying systemic strategies and tactics), and human (considering Social Responsibility, psychological problems, mental health, and multicultural aspects). We will also identify the role that modern Information and Communication Technology (ICT) can play in supporting First Responders by making their job easier and at the same time more effective. Keywords: Social Responsibility, First Responders, Disasters, Intervention, Systems view, Or- ganisation, Mental Health, Human Aspects 1 MOTIVATION Regional disasters (many of them man-made or at least triggered by human activities) seemingly have grown in number, in scale, in their impact and also in their publicity due to media cover- age. Disasters endanger people, society, environment, infrastructure, and economy in complex, multi-facetted, and interrelated ways.