Gholam Reza Raissi1. 1. Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Department, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. grezaraissi@yahoo.com
Abstract
BACKGROUND: In December 2003, a devastating earthquake destroyed Bam and surrounding areas in Iran, leaving many people with residual deficits and disabilities, of which approximately 240 patients had spinal cord injury (SCI). METHODS: As an independent volunteer working in outpatient clinics, I visited the patients as part of a mobile team and set up a short educational course in spinal cord medicine. RESULTS: I visited 34 patients with SCI in the first 3 months. Eight months after the disaster, I visited 54 patients with SCI, 29 female (53.7%) and 25 male (46.3%). Postdisaster problems were identified, including need for accurate data collection, identification of patients' conditions, attention paid to psychosocial issues, ethical dilemmas, and research needs. CONCLUSION: Disaster preparedness for earthquakes should include first aid and injury prevention, coordination of relief efforts, basic education and medical care, and short-and long-term rehabilitation needs. The major focus of rehabilitation medicine specialists' should be education of the general and professional population toward integrating the concept of rehabilitation.
BACKGROUND: In December 2003, a devastating earthquake destroyed Bam and surrounding areas in Iran, leaving many people with residual deficits and disabilities, of which approximately 240 patients had spinal cord injury (SCI). METHODS: As an independent volunteer working in outpatient clinics, I visited the patients as part of a mobile team and set up a short educational course in spinal cord medicine. RESULTS: I visited 34 patients with SCI in the first 3 months. Eight months after the disaster, I visited 54 patients with SCI, 29 female (53.7%) and 25 male (46.3%). Postdisaster problems were identified, including need for accurate data collection, identification of patients' conditions, attention paid to psychosocial issues, ethical dilemmas, and research needs. CONCLUSION: Disaster preparedness for earthquakes should include first aid and injury prevention, coordination of relief efforts, basic education and medical care, and short-and long-term rehabilitation needs. The major focus of rehabilitation medicine specialists' should be education of the general and professional population toward integrating the concept of rehabilitation.
Authors: I N Papadopoulos; N Kanakaris; A Triantafillidis; J Stefanakos; A Kainourgios; C Leukidis Journal: Br J Surg Date: 2004-12 Impact factor: 6.939
Authors: Y Kuwagata; J Oda; H Tanaka; A Iwai; T Matsuoka; M Takaoka; M Kishi; F Morimoto; K Ishikawa; Y Mizushima; Y Nakata; H Yamamura; A Hiraide; T Shimazu; T Yoshioka Journal: J Trauma Date: 1997-09
Authors: M de Bruycker; D Greco; I Annino; M A Stazi; N de Ruggiero; M Triassi; Y P de Kettenis; M F Lechat Journal: Bull World Health Organ Date: 1983 Impact factor: 9.408
Authors: Jan D Reinhardt; Jianan Li; James Gosney; Farooq A Rathore; Andrew J Haig; Michael Marx; Joel A DeLisa Journal: Glob Health Action Date: 2011-08-16 Impact factor: 2.640