Emergency response to the Haitian earthquake—As bad as it gets

The 2015 Nepal earthquake disaster: lessons learned one year on

“…It features highly on an Evidence Aid list of research priorities (14) emphasising the importance that preparedness plays in reducing adverse outcomes following disasters. The need for community engagement in disaster response and preparedness is widely recognised (15)(16)(17, 18) with involvement bringing a variety of potential benefits including local storage capacity (19), local health response (20), and community-led health education and assistance (11). It helps ensure aid interventions are appropriate to the culture and community in which they are provided(21) recognising that certain solutions, such as encouraging communities to build their own latrines in Nepal, may not be culturally acceptable.…”

Hospital-Based Coalition to Improve Regional Surge Capacity

“…The project responded to 6 objectives: (1) enhance situational awareness of capabilities and assets in the South Central Region of Pennsylvania; (2) develop and pilot test advanced planning and exercising of plans in the region; (3) augment written medical mutual aid agreements (MMAA) between healthcare facilities in the region, with special emphasis on hospitals; (4) develop and strengthen partnership relationships through joint planning, frequent communication, simulation, and evaluation of preparedness; (5) ensure National Incident Management System (NIMS) compliance; and (6) develop and test a plan for effective utilization of the ESAR-VHP.…”

“…These teams were (1) education and development, (2) technology and simulation, (3) evaluation and integration, and (4) surge enhancement. Each team consisted of 6 to 10 members including 1 acting team leader and 1 coleader.…”

“…The gaps were identified as requirement for (1) increased capacity through staffing and alternative care sites, (2) improved efficiency through preparedness standardization, (3) decompression of hospitals by working with alternative care sites, (4) development of command and control and NIMS compliance, (5) development of improved transportation planning, and (6) enhanced surge capacity through broader participation.…”

The changing health priorities of earthquake response and implications for preparedness: a scoping review

“…The absence of agreed triage protocols led to inconsistent approaches and ethical dilemmas for staff 50 regarding who to treat and when. In some instances prioritisation was by patient need 37,51,52 , yet in others through a combination of patient need and the need to make the best use of available resources 40,50 .…”