Examining various problems in the aftermath of disasters is very important to the disaster victims. Managing and coordinating food supply and its distribution among the victims is one of the most important problems after an earthquake. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to recognize problems and experiences in the field of nutritional aiding during an earthquake.

This qualitative study was of phenomenological type. Using the purposive sampling method, 10 people who had experienced nutritional aiding during the Bam Earthquake (Iran; 2003) were interviewed. Colaizzi’s method of analysis was used to analyze interview data.

The findings of this study identified four main categories and 19 sub-categories concerning challenges in the nutritional aiding during the Bam Earthquake. The main topics included managerial, aiding, infrastructural, and administrative problems.

The major problems in nutritional aiding include lack of prediction and development of a specific program of suitable nutritional pattern and nutritional assessment of the victims in critical conditions. Forming specialized teams, educating team members about nutrition, and making use of experts’ knowledge are the most important steps to resolve these problems in the critical conditions; these measures are the duties of the relevant authorities.

Nekouie MoghadamM, AmiresmaieliM, HassibiM, DoostanF, KhosraviS. Toward a Better Nutritional Aiding in Disasters: Relying on Lessons Learned during the Bam Earthquake. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2017;32(4):382–386.

The 2003 Bam, Iran earthquake resulted in high casualties and required international and national assistance. This study explored local top and middle level managers’ disaster relief experiences in the aftermath of the Bam earthquake.

Using qualitative interview methodology, top and middle level health managers employed during the Bam earthquake were identified. Data were collected via in-depth interviews with participants. Data were analysed using thematic analysis.

Results showed that the managers interviewed experienced two main problems. First, inadequacy of preparation of local health organisations, which was due to lack of familiarity of the needs, unavailability of essential needs, and also increasing demands, which were above the participants’ expectations. Second, inappropriateness of delivered donations was perceived as a problem; for example, foods and sanitary materials were either poor quality or expired by date recommended for use. Participants also found international teams to be more well-equipped and organised.

During the disaster relief period of the response to the Bam earthquake, local health organizations were ill prepared for the event. In addition, donations delivered for relief were often poor quality or expired beyond a usable date.

MoosazadehM , ZolalaF , SheikhzadehK , SafiriS , AmiresmailiM . Response to the Bam Earthquake: A Qualitative Study on the Experiences of the Top and Middle Level Health Managers in Kerman, Iran. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2014;29(4):1-4.

It is important to identify what kinds of drugs are required by disaster-affected populations so that appropriate donations are allocated. On 26 December 2003, an earthquake with an amplitude of 6.3 on the Richter scale struck southeastern Iran, decimating the city of Bam. In this study, the most frequently utilized and prescribed drugs for Bam outpatients during the first six months after the Bam Earthquake were investigated.

In this descriptive, cross-sectional study, the data were collected randomly from 3,000 prescriptions of Bam outpatients who were examined by general practitioners from Emergency Medical Assistance Teams in 12 healthcare centers during the first six months after the Bam Earthquake. The data were analyzed for: (1) patient sex; (2) number of drugs/prescriptions; (3) drug category; (4) drug name (generic or brand); (5) route of administration; (6) percent of visits where the most frequent drug categories were prescribed; and (7) the 25 most frequently prescribed drugs, using World Health Organization (WHO) indicators of drug use in health facilities.

Male patients represented 47.4% and females 52.6% of the total number of outpatients. The mean number of drugs/prescriptions was 3.5 per outpatient. Oral administration was the most frequent method of administration (81.7%), followed by injections (10.9%). Respiratory drugs were the most frequently used drugs (14.2%), followed by analgesics/non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) (11.3%), antibacterials (11.2%), gastroinestinal (GI) drugs (9.6%), and central nervous system drugs (7%). Penicillins (6.8%), cold preparations (8%), and systemic anti-acids (ranitidine and omeprazole) were among the 25 most frequently used drugs by outpatients and inhabitants of Bam during the first six months after the Bam Earthquake.

Respiratory, analgesic, antibacterial, gastrointestinal, and psychiatric medications were among the most commonly prescribed pharmaceuticals after the catastrophic Bam Earthquake.The results of this study may help to predict the needs of patients during future disasters and prevent unnecessary donations of medicine.

On 26 December 2003, an earthquake measuring 6.5 on the Richter scale occurred in the city of Bam in southeastern Iran. Bam was destroyed completely, >43,000 people were killed, and 30,000 were injured. The national and international responses were quick and considerable. Many field hospitals werecreated and large numbers of patients were evacuated from their homes and transported to hospitals throughoutIran. Nearly 700 patients were transferred to Chamran hospital in Shiraz within the first 48 hours after the earthquake.

This is a retrospective study based on the medical records of earthquake casualties dispatched to Chamran Hospital. A screening tunnel composed of multiple stations was prepared before patients entered to facilitate the large influx of patients. Each of the victims was passed through this screening tunnel and assigned into one of three groups: (1) those needing emergency surgical intervention; (2) those needing less urgent surgery; and (3) those needing elective operations, supportive care, observation, and/or rehabilitation.

Among the 708 patients, 392 were male (male/female ratio: 1.24) with a mean value of their ages of 30.5 years. (range: 1.5 months–70 years). Extremity fractures (136, 19%) were more common than were axial skeleton fractures (28, 4%). Out of the total 708 patients, 152 (21.5%) patients needed emergency operations, 26 (4%) needed less urgent surgery, and 530 (74.5%) required wound care or antibiotic therapy and other forms of supportive care. Some complications occurred, such as two patients with compartment syndromes of theleg, three required below-the-knee amputation, eight suffered acute renal failure, two developed fat emboli syndrome, and one had a brain injury that resulted in death.

A comprehensive disaster plan is required to ensure a prompt disaster response and coordinated management of a multi-casualty incident. This can influence the outcomes of patients directly. A patient screening tunnel has advantages in rapid and effective evaluation and management of victims in any multi-casualty incident.