Disaster Epidemiology Lessons From Bam Earthquake Dec 26, 2003 Iran

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Disaster Epidemiology Lessons
From Bam Earthquake
Dec 26, 2003 Iran Part 4
Rescue and relief operation in Bam earthquake
A. Ardalan MD, MPH, PhD student in Epidemiology
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• Learning objectives
• To view the rescue and relief operation in
• Bam earthquake
• To understand the importance of public training
• and education in basic first aid and rescue
• methods.
• To understand the major concern and barrier for
• effective services delivery in Bam
• To understand the importance of health status
• and basic needs of rescue teams and relief
• workers in disasters.

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Initial Response
Immediate National Response
Immediate International
Response
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Massive rescue and relief operation Various
government agencies including the Ministry of
Interior, Ministry of Health, the Army, the IRCS
and NGOs launched
a massive rescue and
relief operation.

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Massive rescue and relief operation More than
1600 Search and Rescue, Health and Relief
personnel from 44 countries arrived in
the affected areas within a couple of days to
help with the rescue and relief operations.

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Percents of families in need of rescue efforts
who were helped by trained rescue groups, by time
of help
Time after the disaster
Never 46
First 12 hours 18
Second 12 hours 14
2nd day 13
After 2nd day 9
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• Special training for action during an earthquake
  in Bam
• Only in 11 of families, at least
• one person had been trained in
• special action during an
• earthquake or first aid and rescue
• methods.

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Cumulative percent of the first time basic
services delivery to the earthquake-stricken
households in Bam till 20th days of
post-disaster period
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The overall satisfaction of the
earthquake-stricken people from basic services
delivery
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Population movement after the earthquake
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Zones
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Earthquake-stricken area
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Population Movement Major concern and barrier
for effective services delivery in Bam

• Invasion of poor people from neighboring areas to
  Bam 10,000-15,000 people
• Changing living places inside Bam 10

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Injuries and illnesses in relief workers who were
studied on 21st day of post-disaster period in
Bam
17 were injured during their activities, but
not sever
So, 67 did not need to medical care
23 were received medical care
Injuries of Relief workers in Bam
10 did not referred in spite of need
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Illnesses in relief workers
who
were studied on 21st day of post-disaster period
in Bam
49.3 experienced at least one episode of
illnesses
67.2 received medial care
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80 of relief workers in Bam expressed their
need to psychological consultations.
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The demands of rescue team on the 21th days of
post-disaster period in Bam
Bath room 34
Hot / qualified Food
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Qualified accommodation status 8
Clothes 7
Training management 6
Others
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• Conclusion 1
• In disaster-prone areas like Iran,
• training and education in basic
• first aid and rescue methods
• should be an integral part of any
• community preparedness
• program.

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• Conclusion 2
• Research-based information is
• necessary for estimation of needed
• relief supplies, equipment, and
• personnel to deliver services
• efficiently to earthquake-stricken
• people.

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• Conclusion 3
• Do not forget the health status and
• basic needs of rescue teams and
• relief workers, otherwise they will
• not be efficient and will be waiting
• for replacements.

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