Strategies of Disaster Response in the Health Care System for Tropical Cyclones: Experience Following Typhoon Nari in Taipei City

Lai, Tsung‐Ching; Shih, Fuh‐Yuan; Chiang, Wen-Chu; Shen, Shih-Tsuo; Chen, Wen‐Jone

doi:10.1197/s1069-6563(03)00368-3

Cited by 10 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…Currently, more is known about the epidemiology of major types of disasters that produce landslides than about the landslides themselves. While destructive winds in a storm can cause relatively few deaths and injuries, the public health consequences do not usually result from wind damage (Lai et al, 2003;PAHO, 2000). In 1998, the catastrophic death toll following Hurricane Mitch in Central America (an estimated 10,000 deaths) was primarily caused by widespread flooding and thousands of landslides that occurred due to heavy rainfall (Crone et al, 2001;Golden et al, 2003).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In Chuuk, deaths during Tropical Storm Chata'an were most common among children and were most probably caused by suffocation. Like other developing countries, deaths occur most commonly during the first hour of a storm (Lai et al, 2003) and among the most vulnerable group of the population (Crone et al, 2001), with women being disproportionately affected by natural disasters (PAHO, 2002). In our study, women had a higher mortality rate but had no increased risk of becoming a fatality during a landslide when compared with our comparison group.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Risk factors for mortality during the 2002 landslides in Chuuk, Federated States of Micronesia

et al. 2009

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This study examines health effects resulting from landslides in Chuuk during Tropical Storm Chata'an in July 2002, and suggests strategies to prevent future mortality. In August 2002, we conducted a cross-sectional survey to identify risk factors for mortality during landslides, which included 52 survivors and 40 surrogates for 43 decedents to identify risk factors for death. Findings suggest that 1) females had a higher mortality rate from this event than males, and 2) children aged 5-14 years had a 10-fold increase in mortality when compared with annual mortality rates from all causes. Awareness of landslides occurring elsewhere and knowledge of natural warning signs were significantly associated with lower risks of death; being outside during landslides was not associated with reduced mortality. In Chuuk, improving communication systems during tropical storms and increasing knowledge of natural warnings can reduce the risk for mortality during landslides.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Risk factors for mortality during the 2002 landslides in Chuuk, Federated States of Micronesia

et al. 2009

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Radiation Terrorism

McFee¹

2009

General, Applied and Systems Toxicology

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Among the categories of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)—chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive, the two that revive images of horror on a par with ‘doomsday’ scenarios are the radiological and nuclear agents. While all five pose a serious risk to health, and have been used by nations, terrorists and insurgents throughout human history, most healthcare professionals are familiar with treating trauma and have a background—at least rudimentary—in treating pathogens and certain chemical toxicants, although the WMD versions of pathogens and chemicals are clearly more dangerous. But few healthcare professionals have had the experience of working with, let alone recognizing or treating, a radiation‐induced illness or injury. In the December World at Risk Report published by the Commission on Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism impanelled by the US Government, their conclusion in terms of the availability of radiological and nuclear materials, entities willing to use them and the increased opportunity to develop weapons—rudimentary or otherwise was as follows: ‘The sobering reality is the risks are growing faster than our multilayered defences. Our margin of safety is shrinking, not growing’. Mass exposures to a radiological or nuclear event will pose a unique and unprecedented challenge—at least in the last 50 years—a challenge that health‐care professionals remain undertrained for, and most facilities continue to be untested and underprepared. Yet emergency medical services, hospitals and medical professionals are looked upon as the critical response arm of preparedness. While a nuclear or radiological event may be considered a low likelihood—it is clearly a high consequence exigency. As such, our facilities and healthcare professionals need to update or develop plans, increase training and implement more skills‐based efforts. The analogy is simple—our communities are depending upon us to save them… yet we do so with little more than perhaps annual drills or table‐top exercises. Would we allow a colleague to intubate one of our loved ones based upon practising that skill only once a year? Why then, facing the complexities of diagnosing and managing a radiation event in our region, would we be satisfied with single annual exercises? In the aftermath of the Litvinenko murder with polonium‐210, the increasing likelihood of Iran and other nations acquiring some form of radiological weaponry, re‐emergence of nuclear energy as an alternative to fossil fuels and the resulting proliferation of radioactive waste—now is the time to address radiation preparedness. Towards that end, this chapter will discuss the global threats, key medical considerations, essential equipment and other important issues necessary to enhance preparedness.

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Exploring house purchase intention considering typhoon and earthquake disaster experiences in Taoyuan, Taiwan: An extended theory of planned behaviour approach

Novendah,

Prasetyo,

Chen

et al. 2024

International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction

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Strategies of Disaster Response in the Health Care System for Tropical Cyclones: Experience Following Typhoon Nari in Taipei City

Cited by 10 publications

References 8 publications

Risk factors for mortality during the 2002 landslides in Chuuk, Federated States of Micronesia

Risk factors for mortality during the 2002 landslides in Chuuk, Federated States of Micronesia

Radiation Terrorism

Exploring house purchase intention considering typhoon and earthquake disaster experiences in Taoyuan, Taiwan: An extended theory of planned behaviour approach

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