The Historical Development of Public Health Responses to Disasters

Abstract

The first of a of series state-of-the-art reviews commissioned to mark Disasters' 21st anniversary, this paper considers key publications on public health aspects of natural disasters, refugee emergencies and complex humanitarian disasters over the past twenty-odd years. The literature is reviewed and important signposts highlighted showing how the field has developed. This expanding body of epidemiological research has provided a basis for increasingly effective prevention and intervention strategies.

Mass Casualty in A Building Collapse: Techniques of Anaesthesia in Mass Casualty Management (Rana Plaza Collapse at Savar, Bangladesh)

“…4 This was supported by findings of earlier studies also. 5,6 Sixty percent of our casualty had also blunt trauma and soft tissue injuries, which is consistent with previous study.…”

A record of morbidity and medical request profiles in international humanitarian aid, taking the earthquake in Bam in Iran in 2003 as an example

“…It is generally agreed that a minimal essential data set is necessary for the evaluation of the health status of the population concerned. This data must include leading public health diseases and should also provide a basis for further humanitarian activities, regular monitoring and the evaluation of such activities (Noji and Toole 1997).…”

Public health and natural disasters: disaster preparedness and response in health systems

“…However, these institutions have specialized knowledge of the situations and needs of societies that could enable public health specialists to play a more active role in disaster-related decision-making bodies and disaster management teams. Epidemiological research on disasters is the starting point for prevention and intervention strategies to reduce mortality and morbidity in different types of (Noji and Toole 1997). Public health is an important aspect of this.…”