In the event of an emergency, anyone can feel some level of apprehension. However, during any unique crisis, certain people are at risk. According to the Introduction of ISO 22395:2018 – Security And Resilience – Community Resilience – Guidelines For Supporting Vulnerable Persons In An Emergency, in regards the vulnerable during emergencies:
“Relevant factors include age, economic security, language and health, but also the effects of broader processes such as climate change, international security and national political trends.”
Who is Vulnerable During an Emergency?
Emergencies affect people differently, and it can be a challenge to identify which individuals can become less able to anticipate, cope with, resist, or recover from the impacts and pressures of an emergency. This issue is further complicated by the different environmental, political, cultural, and social contexts that can influence one’s vulnerability. Furthermore, vulnerability changes over time, with people moving in and out of vulnerable positions, even throughout the course of the same emergency.
ISO 22395:2018 for Identifying and Supporting Vulnerable Persons
Certain organizations, for the sake of the public, need to identify, involve, communicate with, and support the most vulnerable people within large groups to natural and human-induced emergencies, and ISO 22395:2018 outlines a comprehensive approach to each of these concerns, covering both guiding principles and practical guidance. This international standard also helps with continually improving the provision of support for vulnerable persons in an emergency long-term.
This document is applicable to all types and sizes of organizations involved in emergency preparation, response, and recovery activities. Such organizations who might use ISO 22395:2018 include statutory bodies, international and non-governmental organizations, businesses, and public and community groups, and local, regional, and national governments.
ISO Standards for Community Resilience
Identifying and addressing the needs of vulnerable persons plays an essential role in assuring societal security and community resilience, but this is not the only interest essential to attaining this goal. ISO/TC 292, “Security and resilience,” which develops the ISO 22395:2018 standard, is responsible for the development of numerous standards related to business continuity management systems (BCMSs), emergency management, community resilience, urban resilience, organizational resilience, supply chain security management, protective security, and authenticity, integrity, and trust for products and documents.
For guidance in the area of community resilience, organizations involved in emergency preparation, response, and recovery should refer to ISO 22395:2018, as well as the following ISO standards:
ISO 22315:2014 – Societal Security – Mass Evacuation – Guidelines For Planning
Anyone needing a range of guidance for emergency and incident management for communities and businesses can also acquire several standards developed by ISO/TC 292 together as the Community and Organizational Emergency Resilience Package.
