Emergency and disaster situations such as war or terrorism can leave a devastating impact on the mental well-being of victimized populations. In Israel, the civilian aspects of trauma-related mental distress were first extensively tackled during the 1980s, and mainly within the terror-stricken Jerusalem and the localities along the northern border. Since then, a systematic process of trial and error has led to the evolution of emergency mental health services in the country. Over the course of about forty years, it has grown to be an exemplary one. It is a system deeply rooted in the ground, resulting from both a change of discourse and a naturalistic process of lesson learning, that is, drawing conclusions from actual fieldwork. This process and its implications on the mental well-being of Israelis are thoroughly discussed in this research.

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Abstracts-IPRED 2010using a random sampling technique. The response rate was 80.8% (143 out of 177). Results:The following factors predicted the preparedness level: (1) joint activity of local emergency managers with governmental and non-governmental stakeholders; (2) socio-economic situation in a local community; (3) collective efficacy; and (4) the city's previous war exposure. However, risk perception, population size, ethnic composition of a local community, and financial resources were not significant in the framework of the comprehensive model. A total of 536 casualties were admitted to these centers. Only 18 were evacuated to the local medical centers. The majority were released to their homes after some 40 to 200 minutes of immediate treatment according to a protocol. ConclusionsThe symptoms of the casualties included anxiety (90%), fear (7%), and sleep disturbance (1%). Ninety-two percent were diagnosed as suffering from ASR. The treatment included counseling (80%), ventilation (9%), relaxation (3%), non-verbal intervention (3%), supply of basic needs (1%), medication (1%), and evacuation to hospitals (3%). Conclusions: The ASR and anxiety are the most common injuries seen during a missile bombardment of civil population. The CSTCs are able to provide immediate treatment to most of those casualties and in most of the cases to prevent the need for evacuation to the hospitals. Thus, they enable saving of evacuation resources during air bombardment and reduce the load on hospital emergency rooms.Disaster preparedness should include the establishments of such centers as one of the components of the mental health system response to terrorist and air-attack scenarios. Keywords: acute stress reaction; anxiety; community stress treatment centers; mental health; rocket bombardments Prehosp Disaster Med Treatment of Walking Patients during Chemical Warfare: Presenting the Examination and Treatment Center FarfelAlon, MD; Bar Ariel, MDIsrael A review of a missile strike with chemical weapons (an organic phosphorus) predicts many casualties, most of whom will be ambulatory. A large number of victims suffering from anxiety also is expected. These injuries usually do not require hospitalization for medical treatment, and can be provided with care outside of hospital supervision. However, these patients add to those who are treated unnecessarily with atropine and to those with exacerbation of an existing disease for various reasons. The arrival of ambulatory casualties to hospitals could affect the ability of hospitals to treat casualties with medium to severe injuries. A unique solution was developed to manage these casualties, including: (1) decontamination (to remove possible remnants of chemical warfare material); (2) systemic treatment with antidotes until reaching a state of atropinization; and (3) supervision for several hours. Treatment of anxiety victims involves reassurance and assistance in order for them to cope with the tragic events they experienced. Therapy is based on conversations and physical activity...