Reducing the impact of natural disasters : Why aren't we better prepared?

Natural disasters can be clasified into four main types: floods, earthquakes, cyclones and droughts. This paper compares these types of natural disaster in terms of four characteristics: predictabiblity, scope, onset delay and lethality. Special attention is paid to the last of these characteristics. It is found that the mortality and morbidity associated with natural disasters has changed over time and varies between regions. The variation between regions correlates with differences in socio-economic conditions, the impact of a disaster in a poor area being much greater than the impact of a disaster of similar physical characteristics in a richer area; it appears that the impact of a disaster is as much a function of the local conditions as it is of the nature of the disaster itself. The paper then goes on to consider the nature of the emergency aid that is offered following emergencies. It concludes that it is often wasteful and inappropriate, coming too late into a situation in which conditions have already dictated that mortality and morbidity will be high. Suggestions are made of ways in which funds allocated to disaster relief could be better focused so as to reduce population vulnerability in the face of natural disasters(AU)

The 1980=mil novecientos ochenta earthquake in southern Italy : Rescue of trapped victims and mortality

A retrospective survey was undertaken on the health effects of the 1980 earthquake in southern Italy. The study population included 3619 people living in 7 villages situated near the epicentre of the disaster. The overall casulaty rate (dead and injured) was 19.7

. Nearly all the deaths (192/202) occurred among trapped people who died before they could be rescued. Eighty per cent of all the trapped people were estricated within 2 days, mostly without the use of sophisticated means. The probability of survival decreased sharply, the longer the time before extrication. The crude mortality during the 18 months following the earthquake was 19.0 per thousand among the injured people who received treatment , and 14.1 per thousand among non-injured people. After age standardization, there was no significant difference between these two figures and the expected mortality figures for the Italian population in normal times (14.4 per thousand). These results stress the importance of providing rescue activities in the first 48 hours after the impact. Strengthening the selfreliance of the community in disaster preparedness is suggested as the best way to improve the effectiveness of relief operations. In disaster-prone areas, training and education in methods of rescue should be an integral part of any primary health care programme(AU)

Medico - nutritional information on disaster prone countries and glossary of common illnesses

Includes medico-nutritional parts of country fact sheets together with a glossary of common illness. Components of the country profile are: Diet, nutritional dificiencies, medical supplies, health services, capacity for handling refrigerated drugs and common illnesses

Disasters and public health

Presents studies on the health effects of disasters which have shown that epidemiological indices can be of value in planning preventive and relief measures and in evaluating their effectiveness. Mortality rates vary considerably but in earthquakes the number of deaths 100 houses destrozed can give an indication of the adequacy of building techniques. Age-specific mortality rates can help to identify particularly vulnerable groups and indicate what form of education would be valuable. Except in earthquakes, the number of casualties after a disaster is usually low in relation to the number of deaths and study of the distribution and types of lesions would help in planning the amounts and types of relief workers and personnel required. Disasters also affect the general level of morbidity because of interruption of normal health care services. Mental health and nutrition require further investigation. Study of all these features of disasters has been handicapped by lack of data (AU)

Drugs and supplies for disaster relief

Explains the factors of the epidemiological profile, the type of disaster and different medical background when making a requisition as to the variety of "standard lists" of supplies or "disaster kits". A quick but objective assessment of needs matched to existing resources is a most necessary step. Projection of better information to medical personnel and to the public promotes a more rational response to an unexpected mass emergency. Each health official is asked to think a head and anticipate needs in his area of responsibility and take appropriate measures to be in position to meet those needs should a disaster occur tomorrow

El terremoto de Guatemala : Evaluación epidemiológica de las operaciones de socorro

Las eficaces operaciones nacionales e internacionales de socorro favorecieron de manera considerable la recuperación inicial después del terremoto de Guatemala ocurrido en febrero de 1976. Esta experiencia se examina desde el punto de vista epidemiológico y se sugieren procedimientos posibles para responder mejor a los acontecimientos de esta naturaleza (AU)

Earthquake in Guatemala : Epidemiologic evaluation of the relief effort

The damage wrought by the earthquake that recently struck Guatemala evoked a commendable and efficient national response. It also led to international relief activity that was clearly instrumental in assisting the country's short-term recovery efforts. At the same tieme, this initial recovery period caused a good deal of experience to be gained in the field of disaster management. Some of the lessons derived from the experience are examined, and a number of approaches are suggested for measurably improving both national and international response to future disasters of this kind (AU)

La epidemiología de los desastres / The epidemiology of disasters

Define el término desastre indicando su alcance y utilización. Destaca la importancia de la epidemiología en los desastres para lograr la planificación de medidas apropiadas de rescate y socorro. Presenta información sobre las tasas de mortalidad en diferentes tipos de desastres. Analiza el problema de la morbilidad después del desastre, asociado con el control de enfermedades transmisibles y la evaluación nutricional