Introduction to GBA Plus

Video Transcript

Applying GBA Plus to emergency preparedness

Emergency situations such as natural disasters and health pandemics do not necessarily affect all people in the same way. For example, a low-income man in a wheelchair, a First Nations teen girl on a reserve, a rural elderly woman, and a new immigrant family will all experience an emergency situation in a different way. Their respective access to communication lines, information, health services and basic needs may all be very different – as well as their vulnerability to illness, isolation, food shortage or violence – may all be very different too.

Emergency situations also impact emergency responders. For example, men dominate the policing, firefighting and paramedic fields, placing them at greater risk of work-related physical and mental health injuries caused by hazardous materials, fires or social unrest.

Conducting GBA Plus helps us to understand the different roles and experiences of people within their families and their communities. Their diverse needs and strengths should be considered in our planning and response to emergency situations.

Failing to plan for and respond to people’s diverse needs, which often become more pronounced during a crisis, can leave vulnerable groups at greater risk and create unpredicted pressures on the emergency management system.