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At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed2006

A Katrina experience: lessons learned.

PURPOSE: Almost no data exist on how best to respond to the medical needs of civilians displaced by natural disasters. After Hurricane Katrina destroyed the Gulf Coast and seriously damaged the infrastructure of Jackson, Miss, the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) was challenged with serving a large group of evacuees at a major Red Cross evacuation shelter near our campus. We reviewed our experiences and share lessons learned. METHODS: This is a retrospective review of administrative and clinical records for patients served by a medical clinic established emergently after Hurricane Katrina. RESULTS: Red Cross regulations precluded their volunteers from providing medical care other than first aid. Faced with numerous evacuees seeking medical assistance, UMMC established an ambulatory clinic at the shelter. The majority of patients had multiple medical problems, no medical insurance, and limited ability to purchase medications. The greatest need was for management of chronic illnesses. The clinic provided 2394 patient visits and filled more than 4902 prescriptions over 17 days. CONCLUSION: While medical facilities have emergency response plans for epidemics and mass trauma, little attention has focused on plans for care of evacuated populations. Shelter operators should consider advance coordination of medical care with existing health care systems. Medical facilities along evacuation routes should be aware that they may be asked to provide care for sheltered evacuees.

Academic Medical Centers↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Rapid assessment of the needs and health status in Santa Rosa and Escambia counties, Florida, after Hurricane Ivan, September 2004.

BACKGROUND: Hurricane Ivan, a Category 3 storm, devastated the Florida panhandle on September 16, 2004, causing extensive property damage and 24 deaths. The Florida Department of Health requested assistance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to conduct a rapid assessment in Santa Rosa and Escambia counties to determine the health impact of the hurricane and needs of the affected population. METHODS: A questionnaire was administered 6 days after the hurricane made landfall. The survey instrument elicited information about house damage, illness/injury, and access to utilities. A modified cluster sampling method was used to select 30 clusters in each county. Seven households were interviewed in each cluster and reported weighted frequencies. RESULTS: Three quarters of houses in each county were damaged. Households in Santa Rosa and Escambia lacked basic utilities, including regular garbage pick-up, telephone service, and electricity. Fifty-four percent of households in Santa Rosa and 27% in Escambia reported using a generator. The most commonly self-reported health conditions were sleep disturbances in Santa Rosa (54%) and upper respiratory problems in Escambia (46%). Injuries were reported in fewer than 15% of households in each county. CONCLUSION: Rapid restoration of power, telephone services, and debris pick-up remained a priority 1 week after the event. Findings demonstrated the need for (1) mental health and primary care services, (2) information about safe generator use, and (3) ways to access medical care and medications.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S.↗
PubMedDate not supplied

IMERT deployment to Baton Rouge, Louisiana in response to Hurricane Katrina, September 2005.

An Illinois volunteer emergency response team was deployed to assist in the disaster care efforts following Hurricane Katrina. The team joined local care providers to establish a field hospital on the campus of Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The team worked to support local providers, establish order, and assist more than 3000 evacuees. The challenges and lessons learned from this deployment are identified.

Disaster Planning↗
PubMed2006

Supporting disaster healthcare professionals: a practical and virtual approach.

In this paper, we report on a questionnaire undertaken to evaluate an innovative programme of education for healthcare professionals in the field of aid and disaster healthcare that has been delivered by a partnership of three Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) across Europe since 1999. The development of this programme was a direct response to the stated needs of Non Government Organisations (NGOs) and military healthcare professionals as well as those aspiring to enter this complex area of healthcare. The aim of the project was to evaluate whether the programme was meeting the needs of students and to elicit what improvements could be made to the programme in order to enhance the learning experience. A questionnaire was developed to gather data across seven areas. It was subsequently analysed using the report and statistics features available within WebCT's Quiz/Questionnaire tool, in addition to the spreadsheet software MS Excel. The results of the questionnaire confirm that the programme, while successful in many ways, needs to be modified on a regular basis to reflect relevant worldwide changes and would benefit greatly from increased interaction between faculty and students.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Floods and tsunamis.

Floods and tsunamis cause few severe injuries, but those injuries can overwhelm local areas, depending on the magnitude of the disaster. Most injuries are extremity fractures, lacerations, and sprains. Because of the mechanism of soft tissue and bone injuries, infection is a significant risk. Aspiration pneumonias are also associated with tsunamis. Appropriate precautionary interventions prevent communicable dis-ease outbreaks. Psychosocial health issues must be considered.

Disaster Planning↗
PubMed2006

Response to hurricane disasters.

Unlike most natural and man-made disasters, preparation and planning for hurricanes is possible and effective. Medical needs can be disparate, given the large geographic area involved and the often-prolonged recovery phase. All aspects of medical response, from first responders to hospitals, can directly and negatively be affected by the storm. Planning and practice, however, can drastically improve the outcome.

Disaster Planning↗
PubMed1996

Immediate application of hyperbaric oxygen therapy using a newly devised transportable chamber.

A transportable hyperbaric chamber called the Gamow bag has been reported as an effective means of treating high-altitude illness. The pressure limit of the original bag is set at 2 psi because of the fragility of the fabric. However, improvement of the hardware to make the bag capable of withstanding higher pressures has made it possible to perform standard hyperbaric oxygen therapy with the newly devised portable chamber, the Chamberlite 15. In this study, the safety of the new bag was examined using healthy human volunteers, and the bag was shown to be usable in clinical emergency cases, such as CO intoxication and decompression sickness. The effectiveness of emergency hyperbaric oxygen therapy was also examined using the CO intoxication model of the rat. It was suggested that hyperbaric therapy was especially beneficial if applied during the first 30 minutes of rescue work. It was concluded that the transportable chamber was a promising emergency tool for CO intoxication.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Model describing the effect of employment of the United States military in a complex emergency.

The end of the Cold War vastly altered the worldwide political landscape. With the loss of a main competitor, the United States (US) military has had to adapt its strategic, operational, and tactical doctrines to an ever-increasing variety of non-traditional missions, including humanitarian operations. Complex emergencies (CEs) are defined in this paper from a political and military perspective, various factors that contribute to their development are described, and issues resulting from the employment of US military forces are discussed. A model was developed to illustrate the course of a humanitarian emergency and the potential impact of a military response. The US intervention in Haiti, Northern Iraq, Kosovo, Somalia, Bosnia, and Rwanda serve as examples. A CE develops when there is civil conflict, loss of national governmental authority, a mass population movement, and massive economic failure, each leading to a general decline in food security. The military can alleviate a CE in four ways: (1) provide security for relief efforts; (2) enforce negotiated settlements; (3) provide security for non-combatants; and/or (4) employ logistical capabilities. The model incorporates Norton and Miskel's taxonomy of identifying failing states and helps illustrate the factors that lead to a CE. The model can be used to determine if and when military intervention will have the greatest impact. The model demonstrates that early military intervention and mission assignment within the core competencies of the forces can reverse the course of a CE. Further study will be needed to verify the model.

Altruism↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The Sumatra-Andaman Earthquake and Tsunami of 2004: the hazards, events, and damage.

The Sumatra-Andaman Earthquake and subsequent Asian Tsunami of 26 December 2004 affected multiple countries in the Indian Ocean and beyond, creating disasters of a scale unprecedented in recorded history. Using the Conceptual Framework and terminology described in the Disaster Health Management: Guidelines for Evaluation and Research in the Utstein Style, the hazard, events, and damage associated with the Earthquake and Tsunami are described. Many gaps in the available information regarding this event are present. Standardized indicators and reporting criteria are necessary for research on future disasters and the development of best practice standards internationally.

Disasters↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Overview of the Tsunami disaster.

This is the text for the Opening Address for the Conference, Health Aspects of the Tsunami Disaster in Asia, convened by the World Health Organization (WHO) in Phuket, Thailand, 04-06 May 2005. The frightening reality of the costs (human and material) must be balanced by what has been and can be learned that, if applied, can make the world more resilient for the next event. At the time of this Conference, we are moving from response to recovery. The immediate conclusion relates to the consequences of the realization of a truly interdependent world. Given the huge resources made available, there is an increased need for accountability. Several factors will bear heavily on the outcomes: (1) risk of loss of momentum; (2) ensuring that no gaps in services occur; (3) ensuring that already marginalized communities do not become forgotten or even more marginalized; (4) support and respect of national leadership; (5) commit to enhanced coordination; and (6) develop mechanisms for joint and shared assessments. The available resources must be used to stablize the livelihoods of people for years. Lastly, the reliability and sustainability of the important contributions of the military and the commercial private sectors for future events must be established.

Disasters↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Session 1.2: national health perspectives of the Tsunami crisis.

This is a summary of the presentations and discussion of Session 1.2 of the Conference, Health Aspects of the Tsunami Disaster in Asia, convened by the World Health Organization (WHO) in Phuket, Thailand, 04-06 May 2005. The topics discussed included issues related national health perspectives as pertaining to the responses to the damage created by the Tsunami. It is presented in the following major sections: (1) key questions; (2) discussion; (3) what was done well?; (4) what could have been done better?; and (5) what can be done to prepare for the future?.

Disasters↗
PubMed2002

Traumatic stress responses in earthquake survivors in Turkey.

This study examined the rates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression and associated risk factors in earthquake survivors in Turkey. A group of 1,000 people from 3 camps and 2 prefabricated housing sites in the epicenter region was assessed using the Screening Instrument for Traumatic Stress in Earthquake Survivors. The estimated rates of PTSD and major depression were 43 and 31 %, respectively. Traumatic stress symptoms related to more intense fear during the earthquake, female gender, having been trapped under rubble, death of a family member, past psychiatric illness, having participated in rescue work, and lower education. Avoidance of trauma reminders was the most common symptom and needs special attention in survivor care because of its mental health, social, and economic implications.

Adult↗