Subacute-Stage Organized Medical Support Services in a Disaster Area: Anaysis of medical support in the '99 Taiwan earthquake.
- Author:
Hyoung Gon SONG
;
Bo Seung KANG
;
Keunjeong SONG
;
Yeon Kwon JEONG
- Publication Type:Original Article
- MeSH:
Disasters*;
Earthquakes*;
Emergencies;
Humans;
Taiwan*
- From:Journal of the Korean Society of Emergency Medicine
2000;11(3):362-371
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: There was a powerful earthquaken(Richter Scale 7.6) in Tiawan, on Sep. 21, 1999. we supported the organized medical services in that area during 5 days. METHODS: We made the protocol and analyzed the results prospecitively. RESULTS: We took care of a total of 708 patients from sep. 23 to sep. 27. Traumatized patients related to the earthquake were 245(34.6%), and most of them had minor injuries. Two hundred thirty-nine(239, 33.8%) patients visited us for medical disease related to living in a group. There were 29(4.1%) patients who complained of neuropsychiatric problems due to the post-earthquake stress. Because the condition of the patients was so bad, 18(2.5%) were transferred to receive more medical services. CONCLUSION: In disaster area, organized medical services have two different roles, especially in the subacute stage. One is responsibility for real emergency medical care, and the other is medical care of non-emergency patients.
