EASUREMENTS of the spinal-fluid pressure by means of lumbar puncture in cases of acute injury of the head have been repol~ed and the value of such measurements has been discussed by Russell, 17 Munro, 13 Busch, 2 Rowbotham 16 and several other investigators. 1,5 In order to study intracranial dynamics, Ryder et al. TM recorded the spinal-fluid pressure continuously in a few patients with acute injury of the brain. The cerebrospinal-fluid pressure has also been measured in animals after experimentally induced trauma to the head. 3,1~,2~ Obvious interest has thus been shown in the changes of intracranial pressure in traumatic injury of the brain. However, no attempts have been made, either experimentally or clinically, to study, by continuous recording, the variations of this pressure during the acute stage. On the whole, present-day treatment of posttraumatic intracranial hypertension is based on rather fragmentary knowledge. In our department continuous recording of the ventricular-fluid pressure has been used routinely for several years in a total number of 368 nontraumatic eases of intracranial hypertension. In our experience TM the technique has proved to be safe and we have found considerable practical value in controlling the ventricular-fluid pressure. On this basis we decided to use continuous control of the ventricular-fluid pressure in eases of traumatic injury of the brain. This is a preliminary report on the first 30 patients, illustrated by a few representative cases. The recording time ranged between 1

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Kamedo is a Swedish Disaster Medicine study organization that sends observers to disaster areas anywhere in the world to study recent events, collect useful information, and identify problems relative to the practice of Disaster Medicine. The results of these investigations are published in the KAMEDO Reports, and the English versions will be published in Prehospital and Disaster Medicine.Three of the recent reports follow: 1) KAMEDO Report 69: Ebolus Virus Epidemic in Zaire, 1995; 2) KAMEDO Report 70: The German Rescue and Emergency Organizations: a) Industrial Chemical Fire, Memmingen, Germany 23 January 1997; b) Fire at the Düsseldorf Airport, 01 April 1996; and c) Bus Accident on the Autobahn in Rosenheim, Germany; and 3) Terrorist Attack with Sarin, 20 March 1995. In addition, a catalog listing all of the KAMEDO Reports available in English is provided.

Education and training is an absolute prerequisite for a wellfunctioning organization in major accidents and disasters. Education in this field can not be based only on lectures. Practical training is essential for the understanding of the organization and the need for a different mode of action in these very difficult situations.Practical training can be achieved in exercises, which are very important. To get an optimal amount of knowledge and skill from an exercise, however, the participants must be wellprepared. Thus, there is a need for a training system that: 1) prepares the participants to act as properly as possible in the (often expensive) exercises in the field; 2) provides an opportunity for all participants in a course to act, communicate, and make decisions; and 3) can replace (at least in part) exercises in situations where full, practical training in the field for all participants is not possible.With this background, a system has been developed based on magnetic-board symbols and pictures illustrating all functions/positions in the whole chain of rescue action and medical care. The patients (also illustrated by symbols) are connected to pictures describing different injuries. Setting of priority and all measures in emergency medical care are indicated with a transferable labeling system. The symbols are monitored on white-boards illustrating rescue, medical care, and hospital facilities in the area, alarm systems, organization on the scene, transport, and organization and management in the hospital (emergency room, OR, ICU, and wards).This system provides the participants with the opportunity to work with realistic times in the field during transportation and in the hospital, and permits all participants (single or in groups) to train: 1) communication between units; and 2) decision-making on all levels, where all effects of a decision clearly can be illustrated (learning by doing).The described system has been used successfully and developed during 10 years in training on all levels: 1) basic and postgraduate education and training for nurses; 2) courses for teachers and instructors in Disaster Medicine; and 3) education and training of coordinators at a very high level. The experiences have been evaluated prospectively and illustrate clearly the information that previously was given in lectures can be illustrated much better using a system of this kind. The use of such a system will be demonstrated during a simulated major accident. In 1964, a committee was established in Sweden to pursue studies and collect experiences in the field of Disaster Medicine, and to transfer the experiences to facts and information available for doctors and organizations concerned with disaster medical care. The main task was to send observers to disaster areas all over the world to study recent disasters, collect useful experience, and to become familiar with the problems. A report of the study then is distributed to relevant public authorities, hospitals, and to some major fire brigades. The name of the organizatio...

World Congress on Emergency and Disaster Medicine. nity emergency committee. Joint exercising and testing of the AEP with airport and community responders should occur at frequent intervals. Conclusion: Airport emergency plans, which dovetail into the community emergency plans, attract a total community response to emergency incidents, which-through its effectiveness-can return the airport to normal operations with minimal delays. AEP can also provide an appropriate response in the treatment of mass casualties.