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The Physician's Role In Canada's Disaster Response System

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 June 2012

Sunil Sookram  and
Garnet Cummings
Sunil Sookram*
Affiliation:
Emergency Medicine Resident, University of Alberta, Canada
Garnet Cummings
Affiliation:
Associate Professor, University of Alberta Division of Emergency Medicine, University of Alberta, Canada
*
Division of Emergency Medicine WMC 1G1.50 University of Alberta Hospital 8440–112 Street, Edmonton, Alberta TGG 2B7 Canada
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Abstract

The most recent tragedy in Manitoba illustrates that disasters can strike any community. Within Canada, a tiered disaster response system exists. Even though physicians often play an integral role in the disaster plan, few participate in the planning process or even appreciate their potential role in the event a disaster should occur. Physician involvement would guarantee health matters be appropriately addressed resulting in reduced mortality and decreased morbidity. There are ample opportunities to become involved in disaster planning and response at all levels government. The objective of this paper to inform physicians about the disaste planning infrastructure that exists in Canada, show them where they may get involved, and urge them to do so.

Keywords

Canadacritical incident stresscritical incident stress debriefingcoronerdeathDisaster MedicineEmergency Medical ServicesEmergency Medicinelegalmorbidityphysiciansresponseresponsibilitiesrolessystems
Type
Special Report
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 14 , Issue 3 , September 1999 , pp. 48 - 51
Copyright
Copyright © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 1999

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