Disaster Triage by Advanced Emergency Medical Technicians

Many disaster plans are based on the presence of a physician at the scene to perform triage. This requirement originated when there were no trained paramedical personnel in the field and may actually delay care in rural areas where a physician may not be readily available or may be the only physician at the hospital.It is our hypothesis that properly trained Advanced Emergency Medical Technicians (AEMT's) may serve as triage officers for rural disasters with little difference, and perhaps improvement, in the outcomes of medical care. AEMT's are among the first responders to arrive at scenes of accidents and often triage from three to five trauma patients in multiple victim accidents on the highway. They are on duty, available and strategically located both day and night. The AEMT's are familiar with working under field conditions, i.e. at night by headlight, in rain, snow, and darkness, and know extrication procedures. They are aware of environmental hazards. They have radio and telemetry communication with a physician when needed.

Earthquake Prediction

Every new earthquake disaster revives the idea of earthquake prediction, the idea which was considered a few decades ago as a fantasy scientific endeavor. However, recent technical and scientific developments, as well as some social and economic pressures, have created a quite different atmosphere. Earthquake prediction has become a serious scientific activity combining the efforts and results of many disciplines, particularly those of the earth sciences. The principal purpose of earthquake prediction is to reduce the vulnerability of the population living within an earthquake prone region. For this reason, scientific disciplines other than seismology and geology are also involved; they include those dealing with various aspects of human response and environment.

Field Decontamination and Triage in Chemical Emergencies

Triage and rescue of casualties from accidents involving hazardous materials is a challenge for many emergency medical services (EMS) personnel. With very toxic materials, the untrained and unprepared rescuer may become a victim. In addition, few hospitals in the United States have decontamination units attached to their emergency departments and emergency department personnel may become exposed if the casualty is not decontaminated. Many environmental cleanup teams, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) team, are well trained in materials handling but are not immediately available when a hazardous materials spill with personal injuries occurs.