Learning lessons in emergency management: the 4th International Conference on Healthcare System Preparedness and Response to Emergencies and Disasters

Abstract

BackgroundThe International Preparedness & Response to Emergencies & Disasters (IPRED) conferences are conducted bi-annually in order to share insights and lessons learned from diverse crises. The aim of the article is to bring the IPRED conferences into better professional attention and to share the main insights that were presented in IPRED IV, which was held in January 2016.Main bodyThe major lessons learned included: Planning, regional/global collaboration and public–private cooperation should be implemented in developing novel technologies. International humanitarian action necessitates coordination between diverse actors concerning all potential threats. Leadership/coordination and decision-making capacities of emergency response leaders should be enhanced to ensure quality of care. Ethics in disaster management: Triage decisions must not discriminate against terrorists, even when attackers and victims are treated simultaneously. Resilience management: Establishing family and community networks increases resilience of individuals and society. Training programs & exercises must be evaluated considering cost–benefits. Human resources: Teams of experts should be transformed into expert teams. Communication: A common disaster-management language needs to be established. Social media is useful due to bi-directional communication. Civil–military cooperation should be established to facilitate a coordinated response including common terminologies and exercises. Animal sheltering: First responders and pet owners are jeopardized if animals are not included in emergency planning. Re-unification of animals with their owners should be included in response models.ConclusionsIPRED conferences provide a platform for sharing insights and lessons learned from diverse emergencies and disasters. The conferences offer a unique opportunity to share knowledge aimed at improving emergency preparedness, networking between various parties, and substantiates the knowledge and experience of all professionals who take part in the proceedings.

Risk Assessment of Crisis Management in Response to Natural Disasters with an Emphasis on Earthquakes

“…The findings of the present study are compatible with those of Avventi (2017) regarding the importance and priority of treatment actions taken when facing natural disasters [20]. Adini (2016) said that inter-sectoral planning and cooperation's should be taken into account in order to deal with natural disasters. Medical organizations critically need to take into account leadership, coordination, and decisionmaking, flexibility, expert teams, and multilateral relations so as to show urgent response to natural disasters, which is consistent with the current study [22].…”

“…Adini (2016) said that inter-sectoral planning and cooperation's should be taken into account in order to deal with natural disasters. Medical organizations critically need to take into account leadership, coordination, and decisionmaking, flexibility, expert teams, and multilateral relations so as to show urgent response to natural disasters, which is consistent with the current study [22]. Gunvor (2018) states that a large number of people are affected by natural disasters annually.…”

Maintaining Preparedness to Severe Though Infrequent Threats—Can It Be Done?

“…Building and maintaining a continuous appropriate level of preparedness to emergencies has proven to be a challenge to most healthcare systems world-wide [2,24,36,37]. More so, as routine tasks significantly impact the time, logistic, and manpower resources of most systems, developing and sustaining such readiness for events that do not occur frequently, it proves to be even more ambitious and complex.…”

“…The need to function under personal protective equipment is challenging and further complicates the provision of life-saving services such as intubation and ventilation of casualties [20,24,25]. However, it is a necessary measure to protect the healthcare providers from secondary contamination prior to the decontamination of the patients exposed to toxicological or chemical agents [26].…”

“…The tool formulates the foundation for the healthcare system in promoting an ongoing level of emergency preparedness for varied types of emergencies, including the most common risks (such as mass casualty events) or more infrequent or rare risks (such as toxicological/chemical mass casualty events) [33]. The evaluation tool has been used regularly, through which the overall level of preparedness is assessed in each hospital at a frequency of at least once every two years, and a limited evaluation process (focusing specifically on equipment and infrastructure) is conducted each year [24,33].…”