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At least 433 records · Page 24Linked to original sources
PubMed2002

Satellite remote sensing as a tool in Lahar disaster management.

At least 40,000 deaths have been attributed to historic lahars (volcanic mudflows). The most recent lahar disaster occurred in 1998 at Casita volcano, Nicaragua, claiming over 2,500 lives. Lahars can cover large areas and be highly destructive, and constitute a challenge for disaster management. With infrastructure affected and access frequently impeded, disaster management can benefit from the synoptic coverage provided by satellite imagery. This potential has been recognisedfor other types of natural disasters, but limitations are also known. Dedicated satellite constellations for disaster response and management have been proposed as one solution. Here we investigate the utility of currently available and forthcoming optical and radar sensors as tools in lahar disaster management. Applied to the Casita case, we find that imagery available at the time could not have significantly improved disaster response. However, forthcoming satellites, especially radar, will improve the situation, reducing the benefit of dedicated constellations.

Disaster Planning↗
PubMed2005

Tsunami in South Asia: what is the risk of post-disaster infectious disease outbreaks?

The World Health Organization has warned that in the aftermath of the recent tsunami, infectious disease outbreaks will add to the heavy toll of the disaster itself, possibly even doubling the number of casualties. However, many experts believe the risks of infectious disease outbreaks following natural disasters have been overemphasised and have led to unnecessary and potentially harmful public health activities. This paper discusses the risk and prevention strategies of potential infectious diseases in the aftermath of the tsunami based on a literature review of previous similar disasters and current evidence. Infectious disease outbreaks, if any, will most likely be the consequence of post-tsunami camp situations involving large displaced populations rather than the tidal wave itself. Lessons have been learned from previous large-scale humanitarian crises about the provision of aid and the mitigation of epidemics. This paper examines the risk and preventive strategies of vector- and food/water-borne diseases, measles, acute respiratory infections and meningitis. Alert thresholds at which to trigger outbreak investigations, and standardised guidelines with regard to their control are outlined, based on the Sphere Project.

Communicable Diseases↗
PubMed2006

Disaster and emergency communications prior to computers/Internet: a review.

When communications are needed the most desperately and most urgently, the difficulty of effecting the desired communications increases exponentially. Recent natural disasters in different parts of the world have provided eloquent testament to this. The history of disaster or emergency communications can provide us with a foundation for understanding the problems encountered today, and can offer us insight into how we might improve the systems and processes for communications. The first applications of communication technology that allowed messages to be sent more rapidly than the fastest form of transportation were mainly military in origin. This review takes us from the days of optical or visual telegraphy, through the early development of mobile and radio communications, and up to the current sophisticated technologies. We pay particular attention to the use of amateur radio operators in times of emergency, and relate their activities to those of the most effective military communications. The germane assumption made in this discussion is that any emergency or disaster communications would necessarily be involved in response and resolution of medical aspects of those emergencies.

Communication↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A "community as resource" strategy for disaster response.

Natural and technological disasters present significant threats to the public's health. The emergency response capabilities of government and private relief organizations are limited. With a strategy in which residents of urban areas are trained in search and rescue, first aid, fire suppression, care and shelter, emergency communications, and disaster mental health, the community becomes a "resource" rather than a "victim."

Community Health Planning↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Issues with the integration of technical information in planning for and responding to nontraditional disasters.

In the post-9/11 environment, it has become recognized that the response to man-made disasters (such as chemical spills, bioterrorism, and radiation dispersal) requires a much broader range of tools and technical knowledge than needed for natural disasters (i.e., hurricanes, earthquakes, or drought). This need also requires that those who develop technical information for disaster planning maintain a broader perspective of how the information will be used and what the priorities are for developing new information. In addition, the ability to communicate information within a context understandable to the "end user" has become more critical. The intent of this article is to present issues to help those who traditionally collect and interpret technical information (toxicology, risk assessment, mitigation planners, etc.) to better understand how their information is used in planning for and responding to incidents. These issues are similar to those experienced when trying to provide the users of information provided on material safety data sheets (MSDS) with an understanding of the value and limits of such information in decision making. Confounding the problem are the many sources that provide exposure limits and the limited amount of time the user has to understand the limits of the data during an emergency. While the Federal Response Plan integrates the efforts of multiple agencies, the "on-scene" responders are faced with trying to respond to contradictory strategies and applications of information. Sources of response technical information need to better communicate the limits of application/interpretation of that information in emergency situations.

Communication↗
PubMed2006

Mental health and psychosocial support aspects in disaster preparedness: Nepal.

To improve mental health care in Nepal, a National Mental Health Policy, Strategy and Plan of Action was approved by the Government in 1997. Nepal has high vulnerability to natural disasters compounded by a prolonged violent civil conflict affecting almost all districts of the country. Floods, landslides and earthquakes are the most regularly occurring disasters in Nepal. There is a Health Sector Emergency and Disaster Response Plan of the Ministry of Health, but mental health and psychosocial relief is not adequately addressed in this plan. In 2003 guidelines on best public health practices in emergencies for district health workers was developed in which the minimum standard and indicators include aspects of mental and social aspects of health. The experience of the complex emergency in April 2005 showed that in general the emergency preparedness plan has not been prepared well enough, but on the other hand the health system was able to cope quite well because of past training. Further strengthening of the mental health and psychosocial aspects of disaster preparedness is strongly recommended.

Disaster Planning↗
PubMed2007

Trauma systems.

The major goal of a trauma system is to enhance the community health. This occurs through a process of assessment, policy development, and ongoing assurance. This can be achieved by (1) identifying risk factors in the community and creating solutions to decrease the incidence of injury, (2) providing optimal care during the acute and the late phase of injury, including rehabilitation, and (3) maintaining the objective to decrease overall injury-related morbidity and mortality and years of life lost. Disaster preparedness also is an important function of trauma systems, and using an established trauma system network facilitates the care of victims of natural disasters or terrorist attacks.

Emergency Medical Services↗
PubMed2001

NGO initiatives in risk reduction: an overview.

NGOs appear to be well placed to play a significant role in natural disaster mitigation and preparedness (DMP), working, as they do, with poorer and marginalised groups in society. However, there is little information on the scale or nature of NGO DMP activities. This paper reports the findings of a study seeking to address that gap. It confirms that NGOs are involved in a diverse range of DMP activities but that a number of them are not labelled as such. Moreover, evidence of the demonstrable quality and benefits of DMP involvement is poor. The paper concludes that a number of problems need to be overcome before DMP can be satisfactorily mainstreamed into NGO development and post-disaster rehabilitation programmes. However, there are some early indications of momentum for change.

Developing Countries↗
PubMed2002

Disasters, psychiatry, and psychodynamics.

The unique experience of Disaster Psychiatry Outreach, a voluntary organization devoted to providing psychiatric assistance to people affected by disasters, provides a valuable substrate for exploring the role of psychodynamics in the human experience of disaster and trauma. This article offers a theoretical framework for such an experience that takes into account personal meaning, ego psychology and defenses, and grief work and suggests how to employ this framework in the setting of a disaster by way of examples from the events of Sept. 11. A useful clinical construct for future disaster work known as the "trauma tent" is ultimately proposed, as are novel applications of psychodynamics toward the prevention and mitigation of manmade and natural disasters.

Community-Institutional Relations↗
PubMed1976

The epidemiology of disasters.

Over the last few years there has been an increasing awareness that some kind of disaster management should be possible. The emphasis is now moving from post-disaster improvisation to predisaster preparedness. The League of Red Cross Societies has increasingly encouraged predisaster planning in countries at risk. A new United Nations agency - United Nations Disaster Relief Office (UNDRO)- has been set up with headquarters in Geneva. Coordination and exchange of information between agencies engaged in disaster relief are becoming the rule rather than the exception, and a number of groups have started with the specific objective of making professional expertise available to disaster management. A number of private initiatives have been taken, meetings have been organized, research centers set up, and research projects launched. The study of disasters needs to be approached on a multidisciplinary basis, the more so since the health component is only one part of the broad disaster problem and, perhaps not the major one. Social scientists, psychologists, administrators, economists, geographers, have been or are conducting a number of studies on natural disasters. These studies have provided new insights and have proved most useful in preparing for disasters and increasing the effectiveness and acceptance of relief operations. This is a vital and challenging field, wide open for research. It is now time for epidemiologists and community health scientists to enter the fray and provide much needed information on which a rational, effective and flexible policy for the management of disasters can be based.

Cholera↗
PubMed2003

Mental health issues in disasters and terrorist attacks.

Recent events make clear that those living in the United States are at risk of exposure to a variety of potentially traumatic events, ranging from sniper and terrorist attacks to a variety of natural disasters. This paper provides a broad overview of the most common psychological reactions that can be expected in the aftermath of such events, how primary care practitioners can identify such reactions in their patients, and actions those practitioners might take.

Disasters↗
PubMed2006

Tsunami: psychosocial aspects of Andaman and Nicobar islands. Assessments and intervention in the early phase.

The aim of this paper is to describe the activities and observations of the team from National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) Bangalore, India in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands during the early phase of the Tsunami disaster in January and February 2005. The activities comprised mental health consultation at camps, community sensitization, mental health services to the students and children, teachers orientation sessions and training of non-governmental organization [NGO] functionaries. Initial assessment reveals 5-8% of the population were suffering from significant mental health problems following the early phase of the disaster. This may increase in the aftermath of the early relief phase. Psychiatric morbidity is expected be around 25-30% in the disillusionment phase. High resilience was seen in the joint family system of tribal Nicobarese during early phase of disaster. In developing countries like India, limited availability of mental health professionals and poor knowledge about disaster mental health among the medical and para-medical staff, may lead to poor psychosocial rehabilitation of the survivors. To respond to a high magnitude natural disaster like a tsunami, the disaster mental health team must be able to understand the local culture, traditions, language, belief systems and local livelihood patterns. They also need to integrate with the network of various governmental and non-governmental organizations to cater to the needs of the survivors. Hence the presence of a disaster mental health team is definitely required during the early phase of the disaster in developing countries.

Catchment Area, Health↗
PubMed1999

Assessing disaster-attributed mortality: development and application of a definition and classification matrix.

BACKGROUND: A useful step in developing and implementing sound policies to prevent disaster-attributed mortality is to classify the relationship between disasters and mortality. While there are classification methods for specific health outcomes, there is no standard method that includes all potential outcomes from exposure to a natural disaster. Without standards, our ability to assess health effects from disasters and implement prevention programmes is limited. METHODS: We present a method for ascertaining and classifying disaster-attributed mortality which includes a case definition, flow chart, and matrix. The matrix is used for coding, reporting, and evaluating information about manner, cause, and circumstance of disaster-attributed deaths and geographical location and time of the disaster. To illustrate its use, two readers determine and classify deaths attributed to Hurricane Andrew (1992, USA). RESULTS: Of 322 deaths investigated by the Dade County Medical Examiner's Office, our readers showed 97% (313/322) agreement on case status and 83% (35/42) agreement on case classification. CONCLUSIONS: Our definition allows for a liberal interpretation of what constitutes disaster-related circumstances and the conditions or diseases that might arise from these circumstances. The inclusion of the flow chart and matrix provides a framework for consistent case classification and reporting. It also provides information about relationships between exposures and health effects, thereby identifying prevention policy needs.

Autopsy↗
PubMed2003

Bushfires, 2003. A rural GP's perspective.

BACKGROUND: Extensive bushfires in January and February of 2003 had a major impact on many communities in northeast Victoria, East Gippsland, southern New South Wales and Canberra. These fires eventually engulfed an area roughly equivalent to the entire area of Germany. OBJECTIVE: This article describes the impact of the fires and the role of the general practitioner in the emergency response, and presents recommendations for the role of general practice in future disaster planning. DISCUSSION: General practitioners have critical roles in the provision of round the clock general medical services to their communities in times of bushfire or natural disaster. They also act as gatekeepers to mental health services, psychiatric referral and counselling alongside other community based programs. Divisions of general practice have a pivotal role to play in disaster plans, particularly in coordinating the maintenance of ongoing medical services, facilitating communication between GPs and essential services, and integrating general practice into postdisaster recovery.

Australia↗
PubMed1988

Medical evaluation of the victims of the 1986 Lake Nyos disaster.

A cloud of carbon dioxide gas, with an estimated volume of 1 km3 was released from Lake Nyos, a volcanic crater lake in Cameroon, Africa, causing 1700 to 2000 human fatalities as well as killing thousands of livestock and wild animals. At the request of the Cameroonian Government, the Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance of the U.S. Department of State sent a multidisciplinary team which included 2 forensic pathologists to assist the Government of Cameroon in investigating this natural disaster. The medical evaluation was concentrated in 3 areas: the autopsy of human and animal fatalities, examination and interview of survivors, and examination of the scene of the disaster. Toxicologic specimens were obtained at autopsy, and numerous samples of lake water were collected. The autopsy findings were consistent with asphyxia. The results of chemical analyses excluded many volatiles but not carbon dioxide as the toxic agent. The exact source of this gas continues to be a subject of a heated geologic debate, but fermentation of organic materials in the lake water has been eliminated on the basis of C14 isotope studies. This investigation underlines the value of forensic pathologists in epidemiological studies and in the examination of living persons.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Crisis intervention following disasters: are we doing enough? (A second look).

During mass casualty events the consequences of psychological trauma are an important cause of morbidity among survivors and rescue personnel. Data available from military and civilian disasters over the past 70 years has shown a fairly predictable ratio of acute and severe emotional trauma associated with mass casualty events. Long-term morbidity from psychological trauma can rival or exceed that of the physical injuries of survivors. Psychological intervention reduces this morbidity, and early psychological intervention is more effective before adverse psychological symptoms have fully developed. However, the widely accepted value of early psychological intervention is not universal, with controversy over the degree of emotional trauma expected after a large-scale catastrophic mass casualty event, as well as the number of victims and the effectiveness of immediate psychological intervention. Some research even suggests that there is only a minor risk of acute emotional trauma among survivors of a major disaster. The United States faces the possibility of mass casualties from national disasters--particularly earthquakes--and conventional warfare. It has been predicted that 100,000 major injuries requiring hospitalization and 20,000 deaths would result from the maximum plausible natural disaster incident in the United States. Pentagon planners expect thousands of servicemen to be evacuated to the United States for hospitalization on a daily basis during an overseas conventional war. With these estimates of potential casualties, it is imperative that this controversy be resolved as quickly as possible. The National Disaster Medical System recently established plans to provide immediate treatment for psychological trauma to disaster survivors and rescue personnel.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Crisis Intervention↗
PubMed1998

Children's reactions to disaster.

Children's reactions to disaster are influenced by their developmental stage, as well as by situational, personal, and family factors. This review describes children's experiences during man-made and natural disasters and uses drawings and narrative to illustrate specific reactions. Mental health outcomes, including post-traumatic stress disorder, are identified, as are approaches to working with children and families after disaster.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed2006

Plague: a review of its history and potential as a biological weapon.

The increased threat of terrorism has revealed the importance of various diseases as potential weapons of destruction. Among the diseases that have been identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as being caused by category A organisms is plague. An ancient disease, it has played a role in both natural disasters and war and has been used as a weapon since at least medieval times. This article provides a brief historical overview of the disease in its natural occurrence and in its use as a biological weapon, as well as its potential for future use.

Bioterrorism↗