Disaster Victims\' Care in Hospitals
Contents: Preface. 1. Introduction to disaster management: hospitals role. 2. First receivers of disaster causalities in hospitals. 3. Triage in mass casualty disasters. 4. Role of appropriate medical leadership and technology during disaster. 5. Preparedness and emergency communication systems. 6. Management of blast and burn injuries during disaster. 7. International agencies in relief of natural disasters. 8. Lapses in health care of disaster victims. 9. Weapons of mass destruction and hospital preparedness.
When the disaster strikes, power goes out, all modes of communication becomes inoperatable, lifts stop functioning, drinking water becomes contaminated, normal modes of transportation suddenly becomes impossible and causalities start coming in groups that is not the time for planning but that is the time of acting. This fact makes it imperative for community disaster preparedness and particularly health care system with its critical component the hospital which are to be prepared consistently to mobilize all their facilities for maximum use.
The ultimate aim of disaster management plan is to save as many lives as possible by providing best possible medical care under those circumstances. The use of satellite, computers, electronics, better communication facilities are going to make significant difference in disaster management. The data processing and computers are providing a useful tool in decision making in disaster.
The hospitals have to be in a state of preparedness for dealing with a disaster situation, since there is no time to e lost. The resources have to be optimally mobilized and utilized since the demands outweigh the supply.
This book on Disaster Victims Care in Hospitals would make an important contribution to the knowledge and existing literature on this expanding field. Besides, this would help the academicians, national health officials, public health administrations, medical research workers and the policy makers and planers in the proper understanding of health and hospital care delivery system in the context of disaster management.
