Japan was struck by a magnitude 9.0 earthquake and a tsunami on 11 March 2011. Although this catastrophe has caused the most devastating damage to Japan since World War II, we believe that our systematic preparation for disasters somewhat alleviated the damage. Learning lessons from the magnitude 7.3 Great Hanshin earthquake in 1995, the government organized approximately 700 medical teams spec...

Problem, research strategy, and findings Disaster assistance in the United States has faced criticism for widening unequal impacts of disasters, but little is known about whether how this phenomenon applies to businesses. Small businesses make up most States, they are particularly vulnerable hazards given their relative lack capital. Because recovery primarily loan based, capital can create con...

We assessed how point-of-care testing (POCT), diagnostic testing at or near the site of patient care, can optimize diagnosis, triage, and patient monitoring during disasters. We surveyed 4 primary care units (PCUs) and 10 hospitals in provinces hit hardest by the tsunami in Thailand and 22 hospitals in Katrina-affected areas. We assessed POCT, critical care testing, critical values notification...

Since 2005, the call for the military to conduct ?softer? missions, such as humanitarian assistance and partner training, has increased. These ?medical stability operations? are in fact to be given comparable priority to combat operations. Military leadership understands their the value of Medical Stability Operations across the range of military operations from shaping through postdisaster or ...

The devastating Haiti earthquake rightly resulted in an outpouring of international aid. Relief teams can be of tremendous value during disasters due to natural hazards. Although nobly motivated to help, all emergency interventions have unintended consequences. In the immediate aftermath of the earthquake, many selfless individuals committed to help, but was this really all in the name of reach...

INTRODUCTION An earthquake measuring 6.6 on the Richter scale on 23 December 2003 devastated the city of Bam in southeastern Iran. During the response and recovery phases, considerable shortcomings were discovered. The dire situation in the affected area, a variety of urgently required interventions, and the large number of aid organizations involved brought about difficulties in management, co...