American journal of disaster medicine
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Over the last century, the number of disasters has increased. Many governments and scientific institutions agree that disaster medicine education should be included in the standard medical curriculum. Italian medical students' perceptions of mass casualty incidents and disasters and whether-and if so to what extent-such topics are part of their academic program were investigated. ⋯ Most of the students surveyed had never attended courses on disaster medicine during their medical school program. However, respondents would like to increase their knowledge in this area and would welcome the introduction of specific courses into the standard medical curriculum.
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Assess mortality risk factors including age, sex, and disaster type, in the March 2010 floods and landslides in Eastern Uganda and to compare time period, cause, location, and receipt of medical care among landslide and flood fatalities. ⋯ More deaths occurred due to landslides than floods, and landslide deaths were more immediate, with a majority occurring on the day of the event. Females and younger age groups faced a greater risk of death from the landslide than the flood.
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The European Union (EU) Mass Casualties and Health (MASH) project that ran between 2008 and 2010 was designed to study the management of mass casualties from chemical and radiological releases and associated health implications. One area of study for this project concerned arrangements within EU Member States for the management of mass casualties following a chemical release. This was undertaken via a confidential online questionnaire that was sent to selected points of contact throughout the EU. ⋯ Improvements in awareness and training and the application of modern information and communications will help to remedy this situation. Specialized advanced life support and other medical care for chemical casualties appear lacking in some countries. A program of specialized training and action are required to apply the findings revealed by the MASH study into a unified cross-border emergency medical response.
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Little work has been devoted to the links between natural disasters, subsequent Emergency Medical Services (EMS) network utilization, triage, and public awareness. The aim of this study was to investigate the types and distribution of emergency calls recorded after each South Florida hurricane during the 2005 season, identifying target areas for public health education, and emergency personnel use and training. ⋯ This study suggests that 911 calls regarding respiratory complaints, convulsions, seizures, and hazardous situations can be expected to significantly increase after a hurricane. Educational initiatives, EMS resource allocation, and modified triage systems designed to target these areas may limit EMS system-wide strain and improve health outcomes following natural disasters.
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Little is known about the capacity and activity of emergency medical services (EMS) during large-scale disasters. This article provides a case study of the role of EMS in one large urban city during a major hurricane. ⋯ A strategy for managing surges in prehospital care from major disasters is a requirement for modern EMS.