Rescue efforts management and characteristics of casualties of the Wenchuan earthquake in China

Zhang, Li Min; Liu, Yunbo; Liu, Xijuan; Zhang, Yunlong

doi:10.1136/emj.2009.087296

Cited by 35 publications

(33 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…Currently, NHV operates in two counties which accounted for more than 20% of the earthquake casualties [22]. A comprehensive prospective evaluation of NHV effectiveness attributing program causal effects has not been performed.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The NHV Rehabilitation Services Program Improves Long-Term Physical Functioning in Survivors of the 2008 Sichuan Earthquake: A Longitudinal Quasi Experiment

et al. 2013

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BackgroundLong-term disability following natural disasters significantly burdens survivors and the impacted society. Nevertheless, medical rehabilitation programming has been historically neglected in disaster relief planning. ‘NHV’ is a rehabilitation services program comprised of non–governmental organizations (NGOs) (N), local health departments (H), and professional rehabilitation volunteers (V) which aims to improve long-term physical functioning in survivors of the 2008 Sichuan earthquake. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the NHV program.Methods/Findings510 of 591 enrolled earthquake survivors participated in this longitudinal quasi-experimental study (86.3%). The early intervention group (NHV–E) consisted of 298 survivors who received institutional-based rehabilitation (IBR) followed by community-based rehabilitation (CBR); the late intervention group (NHV–L) was comprised of 101 survivors who began rehabilitation one year later. The control group of 111 earthquake survivors did not receive IBR/CBR. Physical functioning was assessed using the Barthel Index (BI). Data were analyzed with a mixed-effects Tobit regression model. Physical functioning was significantly increased in the NHV–E and NHV–L groups at follow-up but not in the control group after adjustment for gender, age, type of injury, and time to measurement. We found significant effects of both NHV (11.14, 95% CI 9.0–13.3) and sponaneaous recovery (5.03; 95% CI 1.73–8.34). The effect of NHV-E (11.3, 95% CI 9.0–13.7) was marginally greater than that of NHV-L (10.7, 95% CI 7.9–13.6). It could, however, not be determined whether specific IBR or CBR program components were effective since individual component exposures were not evaluated.ConclusionOur analysis shows that the NHV improved the long-term physical functioning of Sichuan earthquake survivors with disabling injuries. The comprehensive rehabilitation program benefitted the individual and society, rehabilitation services in China, and international rehabilitation disaster relief planning. Similar IBR/CBR programs should therefore be considered for future large-scale rehabilitation disaster relief efforts.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The NHV Rehabilitation Services Program Improves Long-Term Physical Functioning in Survivors of the 2008 Sichuan Earthquake: A Longitudinal Quasi Experiment

et al. 2013

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“…In China after the seventh day, acute upper-respiratory-tract infection was the leading problem (40). …”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Major Earthquakes of the Past Decade (2000-2010): A Comparative Review of Various Aspects of Management

Motamedi

Sagafinia²,

Ebrahimi³

et al. 2012

Trauma Mon

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Objectives:This article sought to review and compare data of major earthquakes of the past decade and their aftermath in order to compare the magnitude, death toll, type of injuries, management procedures, extent of destruction and effectiveness of relief efforts.Materials and Methods:A retrospective study of the various aspects of management and aftermath of 5 major earthquakes of the past decade (2000–2010) was undertaken. This included earthquakes occurring in Bam Iran, Sichuan China, Port-au-Prince Haiti, Kashmir Pakistan and Ica Peru. A literature search was done via computer of published articles (indexed in Pubmed). The issues assessed included: 1)Local magnitude,2)Type of building structure 3)Time of the earthquake (day/time/season), 4)Time to rescue, 5)Triage, Transfer, and Treatment 6) Distribution of casualties (dead/ injured), 7)Degree of city damage, 8)Degree of damage to health facilities, 9)Field hospital availability, 10)International aid, 11)Air transfer, 12) Telecommunication systems availability, 13) PTSD prevalence, 14) Most common injury and 15) Most common disease outbreak.Results:The Bam earthquake had the lowest (6.6 Richter’s) and the Sichuan earthquake had the greatest magnitude (8.0 Richter’s). Mortality in Haiti was 212,000 and it was the deadliest earthquake of the past decade. Collapse of heavy clay roofing structures was a major cause of death in Iran and Pakistan. Earthquakes occurring at night and nonworking days carried a high death toll. The time to rescue and treat was the lengthiest in Haiti (possibly contributing to the death to injured ratio). However, the worst dead to injured ratios were in Bam (51%) and in Pakistan (47%); the best ratio was in China (15%). Iran and Pakistan suffered the highest percentage of damage to the health facilities (90%). Field hospital availability, international aid and air transfer were important issues. Telecommunication systems were best in China and worst in Pakistan. PTSD prevalence was highest in Iran. Respiratory infection was the most common infection following all 5 earthquakes.Conclusions:Earthquake damage, death toll, managerial protocols etc. vary in different countries and are influenced by many factors including the hour the earthquake hits and the day of the week. Additionally, social, structural and geographic factors as well as the medical, governmental and NGO respondents are influential. Engineered residential construction remains to be of importance in reducing mortality in developing countries. It is essential that hospitals, fire departments and police stations, water, telephone and electrical facilities be made earthquake proof.

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“…From the view of injuries sustained and the patient spectrum after the earthquake, the comprehensive specialties of the AE medical staff met the treatment needs of the evacuated casualties. Previous medical rescue experiences during earthquakes have shown that, in addition to massive trauma caused by the earthquake, internal, gynecologic, and pediatric diseases began to increase within 3 -7 d after the earthquake ( 18 ). Medical staff included administrative personnel and information statisticians in addition to doctors, nurses, and anesthetists.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Critical Care Aeromedical Evacuation Staff in Batang Airport After the Yushu Earthquake at High Altitude

Zhang²,

Li³

et al. 2012

aviat space environ med

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Rescue efforts management and characteristics of casualties of the Wenchuan earthquake in China

Cited by 35 publications

References 14 publications

The NHV Rehabilitation Services Program Improves Long-Term Physical Functioning in Survivors of the 2008 Sichuan Earthquake: A Longitudinal Quasi Experiment

The NHV Rehabilitation Services Program Improves Long-Term Physical Functioning in Survivors of the 2008 Sichuan Earthquake: A Longitudinal Quasi Experiment

Major Earthquakes of the Past Decade (2000-2010): A Comparative Review of Various Aspects of Management

Critical Care Aeromedical Evacuation Staff in Batang Airport After the Yushu Earthquake at High Altitude

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