Quarantelli established criteria for evaluating the effectiveness of disaster management.

The objectives of this study were to analyze the response of the healthcare system to the Tsunami disaster according to the Quarantelli principles, and to validate these principles in a scenario of a disaster due to natural hazards.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) Home Front Command Medical Department sent a research team to study the response of the Thai medical system to the disaster. The analysis of the disaster management was based on Quarantelli's 10 criteria for evaluating the management of community disasters. Data were collected through personal and group interviews.

The three most important elements for effective disaster management were: (1) the flow of information; (2) overall coordination; and (3) leadership. Although pre-event preparedness was for different and smaller scenarios, medical teams repeatedly reported a better performance in hospitals that recently conducted drills.

In order to increase effectiveness, disaster management response should focus on: (1) the flow of information; (2) overall coordination; and (3) leadership.

After the Volendam fire, a multidisciplinary, integral evaluation, called the Medical Evaluation of the Disaster in Volendam (MERV), was established. This article is a discussion of disaster research methodology. It describes the organizational framework of this project and the methodological problems.

A scientific steering group consisting of members from three hospitals prepared and guided the project. A research team wrote the final study protocol and performed the study. The project was funded by the Ministry of Health. The study protocol had a modular design in which each of the modules focused on one specific area or location. The main questions for each location were: (1) which treatment protocols were used; (2)what was the condition of the patient; and (3) was medical care provided according to existing protocols. After the fire, 241 victims were treated in hospitals; they all were included in the study. Most of the victims had burn injuries, and approximately one-third suffered from inhalation injury. All hospitals and ambulance services involved were visited in order to collect data, and interviewers obtained additional information. The government helped obtain permission for data-collection in three of the hospitals. Over 1,200 items of information about each patient and >200,000 total items were collected. During data processing, the data were re-organized, categorized, and presented in a uniform and consistent style. A cross-sectional site analysis and a longitudinal patient analysis were conducted. This was facilitated by the use of several sub-data-bases. The modular approach made it possible to obtain a complete overview of the medical care provided. The project team was guided by a multidisciplinary steering group and the research was performed by a research team. This enabled the research team to focus on the scientific aspects.

The evaluation of the Volendam fire indicates that a project approach with a modular design is effective for the analysis of complex incidents. The use of several sub-databases makes it easy to combine findings and conduct cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses. The government played an important role in the funding and support of the project. To limit and structure data collection and analysis, a pilot study based on several predefined main questions should be conducted. The questions then can be specified further based on the availability of data.

On 26 December 2004, an earthquake (9.0 Richter, 10 kilometers below the sea) near Sumatra, Indonesia, triggered a tsunami, which traveled at approximately 800 km per hour to strike the Indian coastline. The disaster response at a 100-bed hospital situated on the beach front (2,028 km from the epi-center) is described.This paper underlines the benefit of the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO)/World Health Organization (WHO) Guidelines for Natural Disasters in the Indian setting.

The demand on the healthcare system in the affected study area (50 km2, 40,000 population) was assessed in terms of preparedness, response time, casualties, personnel, and resources. Other disaster issues studied included: (1) the disposal of the dead; (2) sanitation; (3) water supply; (4) food; (5) the role of the media; and (6) rehabilitation. Two hospital paramedics administered a disaster-related questionnaire in the local language to the victims (or an accompanying person) upon arrival at the hospital. Personalinterviews with administrative officials involved in incident management, aid, volunteers, and response, also were conducted.The outreach programs consisted of medical camps, health education, re-chlorination of contaminated drinking water, and spraying bleaching powder on wet floor areas.

The total death toll in the area was 62 (with 56, four, and two bodies being recovered on Day 1, 2, and 3 respectively). There were 17 deceased males and 45 females. The bodies immediately were handed over to the relatives upon identification or sent to the mortuary. The attendance in the makeshift accident-and-emergency department on the day of the Tsunami was 219, surged to 339 patients on Day 2, and returned to baseline census on Day 7. Essentially, injuries were minor, and two children with pulmonary edema secondary to salt-water drowning recovered fully. The hospital was cleaned of debris and seaweed on Day 3 and the equipment was restored, but it remained only partially functional. This is because many staff members did not come to work because of rumors that another tsunami was imminent.There were no outbreaks of water-borne illnesses. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms such as panic attacks, nightmares, insomnia, fear of water, being startled by loud sounds, and palpitations were detected in 17% of the patients.

After an event, medical rescue personnel often are instructed by well-meaning authorities to conduct interventions and response, which have high visibility in the media. However, strictly adhering to the Pan-American Health Organization/World Health Organization guidelines proved to be cost-effective in terms of resource allocations and disaster responses in the Tsunami-affected areas. Unnecessary mass vaccinations, mass disposal of dead bodies without identification, and an influx of untrained volunteers were avoided. Inappropriate aid by developed nations often is unmindful of the victims'needs and self-esteem. The survivors demonstrated natural coping mechanisms and resilience, which only required time and psychosocial support.

Exposure to cold temperature is a serious but often neglected problem in prehospital care. It not only is an uncomfortable, subjective experience, but it also can cause severe disturbances in vital functions, gradually leading to hypothermia.

The aim of this study was to examine healthy subjects'physiological and subjective reactions to cold exposure (30 minutes at -5°C in the a climatic chamber) while they were lying in a protective covering.

Healthy volunteers (n = 20) participated in the experiment, which consisted of a 10-minute stabilization period of vital functions at room temperature (23°C), 30 minutes of cold exposure (-5°C), and a 30-minute recovery period at room temperature. Subjects lay supinely in protective covering during the entire experiment. Skin temperatures, oxygen saturation, pulse rates, pulse wave amplitude in the middle finger, and surface electromyography (EMG) activity of the major pectoral muscle were recorded continuously during the test. Before and immediately after the cold exposure, tympanic membrane temperatures were measured. In addition, subjects were asked to estimate cold using a standard scale.

During the cold exposure, the decrease in tympanic membrane temperature was not significant.The pulse wave amplitude in the finger decreased sharply upon entering the cold chamber. Skin temperatures, especially of the fingers and toes, decreased during the cold exposure.There were no clear signs of shivering in electromyographic recordings. Subjective cold feelings followed decreasing skin temperatures. Skin temperatures did not return quickly. Even 30 minutes after the exposure, all the skin temperatures still had not returnedto normal levels.However, subjective cold feeling was relieved immediately.

Cold exposure provoked immediate protective vasoconstriction in the peripheral compartment, which caused linear decreases of local skin temperatures. This probably was triggered from the unprotected face and upper respiratory areas.

Latex allergy first was recognized early in the 20th Century, but was not a matter of concern until the last decade of that Century. The reported incidence of latex allergy in different occupations varies considerably. It has been documented in dental workers, operating theater staff, anesthetists, and laboratory technicians. However, little data specifically related to those involved in patient care in the emergency prehospital setting are available.

A questionnaire was distributed to a sample of both volunteer and salaried first responders from St. John Ambulance Australia in South Australia and Western Australia, and the South Australian AmbulanceService. The first responders were surveyed to: (1) determine the incidence of latex allergy; (2) consider possible factors associated with its development; (3) compare characteristics of the surveyed groups; and (4) reinforce the development of an educational program.

The study tool had predetermined statistical qualities. Data were collated and processed using standard statistical procedures. Surveys were collected anonymously.

Of the 2,716 forms distributed, 1,099 were returned, resulting in an overall response rate of 40.5%. Atopy was identified in 14.9% of participants, hand dermatitis in 9.4%, and latex allergy in 6.4%. In the group of full-time ambulance officers, there was a significantly higher incidence of hand dermatitis and latex allergy. There also was a significant relationship between latex allergies and both dermatitis and glove usage (as measured by frequency and duration).

In a group of first responders assessed by an anonymous, voluntary questionnaire, the subset of full-time, salaried ambulance officers was identified as having a higher incidence of hand dermatitis and latex allergy than their volunteer co-workers. These results require further assessment to substantiate the frequency of latex allergy and determine the predisposing factors. All personnel must learn about hand care. Non-powdered, natural rubber latex gloves should be supported for general use in this setting.

The First Access for Shock and Trauma (FAST 1) Sternal Intraosseous (IO) System is a vascular access device designed as an alternative to peripheral or central intravenous (IV) cannulation for the treatment of critically ill and injured adults. During the development of the device, key objectives included safety, speed of insertion, and ease of use with minimal training. This study evaluated these characteristics.

Ten experienced paramedics participated in a 90-minute training program for the use of the FAST 1 System at the Paramedic Academy of the Justice Institute of British Columbia. Then, the paramedics used thesystem in three simulated prehospital scenarios and evaluated the ease of use and compatibility of the training method with current practice using a 10-centimeter (cm) (3.94 inches (in)), visual analog scale.

The duration of the procedure from opening the package to initiation of fluid flow ranged 52–127 seconds (mean = 92 ±32 seconds). Placement accuracy was excellent, with a mean displacement of 2 mm (0.08 in) and 1 mm (0.04 in) in the vertical and horizontal planes, respectively. The paramedics rated the system highly in all areas. They considered the training “straight forward” and “comprehensive”. The possibility for interference between the IO system and cervical collars was reported, and several suggestions to remedy this and achieve other improvements were made.

Placement of the FAST 1 is fast, accurate, and easy to use. Paramedics had useful input concerning the design of the product.

On the morning of 25 April 2005, a Japan Railway express train derailed in an urban area of Amagasaki, Japan. The crash was Japan's worst rail disaster in 40 years.This study chroniclesthe rescue efforts and highlights the capacity of Japan's urban disaster response.

Public reports were gathered from the media, Internet, government, fire department, and railway company. Four key informants, who were close to the disaster response, were interviewed to corroborate publicdata and highlight challenges facing the response.

The crash left 107 passengers dead and 549 injured. First responders, most of whom were volunteers, were helpful in the rescue effort, and no lives were lost due to transport delays or faulty triage. Responders criticized an early decision to withdraw rescue efforts, a delay in heliport set-up, the inefficiency of the information and instruction center, and emphasized the need for training in confined space medicine. Communication and chain-of-command problems created confusion at the scene.

The urban disaster response to the train crash in Amagasaki was rapid and effective.The KobeEarthquake and other incidents sparked changes that improved disaster preparedness in Amagasaki. However, communication and cooperation among responders were hampered, as in previous disasters, by the lack of a structured command system. Application of an incident command system may improve disaster coordination in Japan.

In October 2003, San Diego County, California, USA, experienced the worst firestormin recent history. During the firestorm, public health leaders implemented multiple initiatives to reduce its impact on community health using health updates and news briefings. This study assessed the impact of patients with fire-related complaints on the emergency medical services (EMS) system during and after the firestorm.

A retrospective review of a prehospital database was performed for all patients who were evaluated by advanced life support (ALS) ambulance personnel after calling the 9-1-1 emergency phone system for direct, fire related complaints from 19 October 2003 through 30 November 2003 in San Diego County. The study location has an urban, suburban, rural, and remote resident population of approximately three million and covers 4,300 square miles (2,050 km2). The prehospital patient database was searched for all patients with a complaint that was related directly to the fires. Charts were abstracted for data, including demographics, medical issues, treatments, and disposition status.

During the firestorm, fire consumed >380,000 acres (>938,980 hectares), including 2,454 residences and 785 outbuildings, and resulted in a total of 16 fatalities. Advanced life support providers evaluated 138 patients for fire related complaints. The majority of calls were for acute respiratory complaints. Other complaints included burns, trauma associated with evacuation or firefighting, eye injuries, and dehydration. A total of 78% of the injuries were mild. Twenty percent of the victims were firefighters, most with respiratory complaints, eye injuries, or injuries related to trauma. A total of 76% of the patients were transported to the hospital, while 10% signed out against medical advice.

Although the firestorm had the potential to significantly impact EMS, pre-emptive actions resulted in minimal impact to emergency departments and the prehospital system. However, during the event, therewere a number of lessons learned that can be used in future events.

Children represent a vulnerable population, and special considerations are necessary to care for them properly during disasters. Comprehensive disaster responses include addressing the unique needs of children during mass-casualty incidents, such as the prevention of unintentional injuries. Early in the morning of 04 September 2005, approximately 1,600 Hurricane Katrina and/or flood survivors from NewOrleans, including approximately 300 children, arrived at Camp Gruber, an Oklahoma National Guard base in Eastern Oklahoma.

The primary function of Camp Gruber to train support personnel for the Oklahoma National Guard. This is not a child-safe environment. It was hypothesized that the camp contained numerous child injury hazards and that these hazards could be removed systematically using local child injury prevention experts, thereby preventing unintentional injuries to the displaced children.

On 08 September, “Operation Child-Safe” was launched by the Pediatric Injury Response Team to identify and remove pediatric injury hazards from Camp Gruber. Injury prevention experts from the Safe Kids Tulsa Area (SKTA) Chapter, the closest pediatric injury prevention group in the region, spearheaded the operation. Several visits were required to remove all of the injury hazards that were identified.

Many hazards were identified and removed immediately, while others were addressed in a formal letter to the Camp Gruber Commander for required consent to implement changes. Hazards identified in the camp included, but were not limited to: (1) dangerous chemicals; (2) choking hazards; (3) open electrical outlets; and (4) missing smoke detectors. Bicycle helmets, car seats, strollers, portable cribs, and other safety-related items were passed out to families in need. A licensed daycare facility also was established in order to give the adult guardians a break from constant supervision. Over the course of one month, only one preventable injury (minor head injury) was reported during camp operations, and this particular injury occurred two days before “Operation Child-Safe” was initiated (Day 3 of camp operations).

In the aftermath of an event that displaces large numbers of people, it is likely that children will be exposed to numerous injury hazards. Volunteers with expertise in child injury prevention are needed to make an evacuee shelter safer for children.