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Preparations for Severe Winter Conditions by Emergency Health Personnel in Turkey

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 April 2014

Cüneyt Çalışkan ,
Aysun Algan ,
Hüseyin Koçak ,
Burcu Küçük Biçer ,
Meltem Şengelen  and
Banu Çakir
Cüneyt Çalışkan*
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency and Disaster Management, Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Canakkale, Turkey
Aysun Algan
Affiliation:
Department of Public Health, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
Hüseyin Koçak
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency and Disaster Management, Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Canakkale, Turkey
Burcu Küçük Biçer
Affiliation:
Department of Public Health, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
Meltem Şengelen
Affiliation:
Department of Public Health, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
Banu Çakir
Affiliation:
Department of Public Health, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
*
Address correspondance and reprint requests to Cuneyt Caliskan, MSc student, Emergency and Disaster Management, Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Terzioglu Campus School of Health, Canakkale 17100 Turkey (e-mail caliskan007@hotmail.com).
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Abstract

Objective

Emergency and core ambulance personnel work under all environmental conditions, including severe weather condtions. We evaluated emergency medical personnel in Çanakkale, Turkey, for their degree of preparedness.

Methods

A descriptive study was conducted in Çanakkale, Turkey, within 112 emergency service units and their 17 district stations. Surveys were developed to measure the level of preparedness for serious winter conditions that individual workers made for themselves, their homes, and their cars.

Results

Of the 167 survey participants, the mean age was 29.8 ± 7.9 years; 52.7% were women; more than half (54.75%) were emergency medical technicians; and 53.3% were married. Only 10.4% of those who heated their homes with natural gas had carbon monoxide detectors. Scores relating to household and individual preparation for severe winter conditions increased by participants’ age (P < .003), being married (P < .000) and working in the city center (P < .021); and for men whose cars were equipped with tow ropes, extra clothing, and snow tires (P < .05). Absenteeism was higher for central-city personnel than district workers because they were less prepared for harsh winter conditions (P = .016).

Conclusion

Many of the surveyed emergency health personel demonstrated insufficient preparations for serious winter conditions. To increase the safety and efficiency of emergency medical personnel, educational training programs should be rountinely conducted. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2014;0:1-4)

Keywords

112 Emergency Health Personnelserious winter conditionsdisasterswinter storms
Type
Brief Report
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 8 , Issue 2 , April 2014 , pp. 170 - 173
Copyright
Copyright © Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc. 2014 

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