God at the bedside.

as motor vehicle crashes and injuries, was also seen as a secondary result of the earthquake. Maternal care and neonatal care, especially the latter, represented a substantial portion of the activity in the field hospitals, since so many displaced people were living in tents without adequate heat and water. Psychological trauma from the earthquake was common, often compounding underlying illness and injury. Every single person in Bam suffered devastating loss. Many people lost their entire families, and many children were orphaned. Disasters follow no rules. The spectrum of threats ranges from natural and man-made disasters (including terrorism) to chemical, biologic, and nuclear weapons of mass destruction. All disasters, regardless of their cause, have similar medical and public health consequences. A consistent medical approach to disasters, based on an understanding of their common features and the response expertise they require, is becoming the accepted practice throughout the world. This strategy, called the mass-casualty-incident response, permits teams from various countries to work together to meet disaster-related needs, despite language and cultural barriers. 1,2