Journal of Rescue and Relief
Year:2015 | Volume:6 | Issue:4|Papers Count:10

Background: Landslide is one of the natural hazards around the country that cause casualties and financial losses each year. This disaster destroyed roads, meadows, mountains, erosion and sedimentation in the watershed basins.Method: In this study, the risk of landslides in Golestan province is examined via weighted (using AHP) bivariate statistical model. First, all the landslides (number & area) were listed by field study based on local data, and then the distribution map was prepared for each city.Findings: According to the results, relative risk map was prepared with 6 classes. The highest and lowest number of landslides occurred in Maraveh Tappeh and Aq Qala respectively. The most area of landslides was in Aliabad. In addition, Ali Abad and Kalaleh Kordkuy county and also Gonbad, Ramian, Bandar Torkman, Gomishan had the most and the least hazard rate.Conclusion: The analysis of effective factors for landslide showed that landslide factors have different importance.

Background: Disaster preparedness and management in hospitals are interesting research topics. With regard to the studies conducted, this research is performed to collect and compare the published studies about preparation in all hospitals dealing with disaster in the country.Method: In this review study, data and information was searched and collected based on the keywords consist of "hospital disaster readiness", "hospital disaster", "disaster management system" in databases such as Iran Medex, SID, Magiran and also PubMed and Google scholar. Quality assessment of papers was evaluated and finally, the results was compared and analyzed.Findings: A total of 32 articles were found; 21relevant articles were analyzed.Conclusion: According to the results, in most studies, crisis preparation of hospitals was moderate. Therefore, planning is important in order to implement the crisis management program for hospitals and to improve their preparedness in the country.

Background: This research aims to study the relationship between entrepreneur leadership behaviors and psychological empowerment of employees in higher education centers of Red Crescent society of the Islamic Republic of Iran.Method: By census sampling method, all personnel including 261 experts were studied by using Spreitzer questionnaire to measure psychological empowerment and Zampetakis & Moustakis questionnaire to measure manager entrepreneurial behaviors. Pearson's correlation coefficient and multiple regression were used for data analysis.Conclusion: According to the findings, the results were as follows: there was a significant positive relationship between all aspects of entrepreneurial leadership behaviors with psychological empowerment, the aspects of self-determination and autonomy and trust. Also, there was a significant direct relationship between components of employees’ entrepreneurial leadership behaviors such as change orientation, strategic vision, creating an energetic work environment with sense of competence and effectiveness; but no significant relationship was observed between the ability to cut bureaucratic red tape and supportive context with the sense of competence and effectiveness. However, there was a significant direct relationship between employees’ change orientation, strategic vision, creating an energetic work environment and a supportive context with meaningfulness; but no relationship was observed between the ability to cut bureaucratic red tape with meaningfulness. In addition, change orientation and strategic vision were highly significant for predicting psychological empowerment in applied-science centers employees of Red Crescent society.

Background: Effective disaster response is a crucial factor in reducing casualty rate in the affected areas by earthquake. This study aims to compare training methodology for international USAR teams in Iran and United Nations.Method: In this comparative-descriptive study, data was collected from national and international instructions, rules and regulations series and databases. Operational level, team roles and team structures were compared in national and international teams. The main focus of the study was on the contents of the training programs and methodology.Findings: According to the results, national training methodology is mainly defined based on the role of job description. Operational levels and teams’ classifications are not determined in national teams. Also, team structure does not comprise all five components required by INSARAG guidelines. In addition, the number of staff and professional categories are different from INSARAG guidelines. Team roles are not clearly defined.Conclusion: The results are as follows: Operational level and area of response can be better classified based on the structures. However, the existing independent teams carried out the duties of the four USAR teams (from light to international level).Training methodology and components need improvement. To organize the teams of management, medical emergency, administrative support and support in relief and rescue operations are independent of search and rescue team. Thus, capacity building may be improved by training first responders in rural communities and teams training based on international standards depending on the type of urban construct in urban areas respectively.

Background: Due to the reckless driving behavior of a bulldozer driver belonging to Department of Transportation, Isfahan-Omidiyeh Oil Pipeline broke on Monday, 14 April2008, and extensive oil spill was happen on 500m upstream of the river in the Chelvan from Chaharmahal & Bakhtiari, and the river and the surrounding land was polluted. After the incident, the drinking water of some cities was completely cut off for 48 hours. This study was done to presents asuccessful example of intersect oral cooperation and interaction for the management of an environmental disaster.Method: This applied research was carried out in five stages. First, a review of the literature was done about toxic substances spills and specially oil spill in water resources. Second, incident was reviewed by existing documents. In the third stage, through interviews with those responsible or involved in incident management, information identifying the roles, responsibilities and interventions and finally content analysis was used to analyze data and design interactive model for oil spill management.Findings: In response to the incident, widespread act was done by Governor, the Office of Water & Wastewater, the Environmental Protection Agency, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, The Fire and Safety Services, oil companies and other bodies responsible for cleaning the area and preventing entry of crude oil, dewatering and water treatment facilities. After cleaning the river and carrying out the necessary tests, water treatment carried out in compliance with relevant standards. Also, through coordination with Isfahan province, side problems of water cut were reduced to a minimum.Conclusion: Oil pollution is one of the most dangerous pollutants which threats groundwater and surface water resources. In order to reduce the risk of oil spills, predicting and identifying accident prone areas and measures cause the occurrence of such events are essential. So, the interaction and collaboration among involved organizations in pre-crisis phase of these kinds should be considered.

Background: Everyday, relief workers deal with a variety of stressors such as overload work, interpersonal conflicts, work shifts, mortality, lack of psychological support, conflict with managers and confusion in the face of their authorities. These factors can affect the relief workers (rescuer). Using coping strategies like stress, hardiness and the sense of effectiveness in dealing with activities and challenges can affect relief workers’ psychological health. This paper aims to study the relationship between coping strategies with stress, psychological hardiness and self-efficacy in relief workers in Red Crescent society of Kohgiluyeh & Boyer-Ahmad province.Method: In this descriptive and cross-sectional study, about 291 relief workers was selected and studied in Red Crescent society of Kohgiluyeh & Boyer Ahmad province by using stratified random sampling. Data was gathered through self-efficacy questionnaire (Schwarzer, Jerusalem 1979), coping strategies (Endler & Parker, 1990), and psychological hardiness in Personal Views Survey (Kobasa, 1990). In addition, data were analyzed by using SPSS19 software and Pearson’s coefficient statistical test. (P=0.01) Findings: The results are as follows: dimensions of psychological hardiness consist of struggle, commitment and control with mean and standard deviation of 39 & 3.4, 37 & 3.6, and 40.5 & 3 respectively; dimensions of coping strategies including problem-oriented, excitement-oriented and avoidance with mean and standard deviation 62 & 10.7; 59 & 10.7 and60.3 & 10.1 respectively. About self-efficacy, the mean and standard deviation in relief workers were of 33 and 4. It must be said that the highest mean and standard deviation was seen in problem-oriented coping style (62 and 10.7). The findings showed that there was a significant relationship among psychological hardiness, coping strategies and self-efficacy in relief workers (p<0.01). Also, dimensions of hardiness (commitment and struggle) have a meaningful relationship with components of coping strategies (p<0.01).Conclusion: According to the results, self-efficacy, hardiness and coping strategies can be developed; and organizations can play an important role in developing these features in relief workers.

Background: Helping others and services to our fellowmen have been carried throughout the history in different ways. It is one of the most important examples of human services called as rescue and relief to the injured and affected people.At any time, people may be affected by disasters such as natural disasters, heavy storms, car accidents and etc. Certainly at the time of such disasters, people need other people’s help with regard to human beings are members of a whole. However, the affected people should be fast rescued. It should be mentioned that the rescue and relief efforts to the injured is the order of Islam religion as the pioneer of serving humanity and eliminating the pain and human suffering by arranging and codifying law, regulations, rules and duties in one hand and also relates to the pure nature of human beings on other hand.Sometimes, rescue and relief operation occurs under conditions which cause problems for both the injured and the relief workers. With regard to the rescue and relief operation, the first responders may face dilemma on dealing with the importance of protecting privacy of the affected people and observance of ethical guidelines.

Background: Ilam is a disaster-prone province in terms of road accidents. Thus, this study aims to evaluate the effect of rescue and relief posts in reducing the number of deaths and casualties in Ilam roads.Method: In this cross sectional study, all drivers (N=1040) on the Ilam roads (bus, cab, minibus) were studied. By using self-administrated questionnaire, about 282 persons were selected based on stratified random sampling. The validity and reliability was tested based on Cronbach’s alpha coefficient. (0.80).Findings: According to the findings, there is a positive and significant relationship between geographical, human, social-educational and logistical factors of rescue and relief roads posts with reducing the number of injuries and casualties in Ilam roads (0.83£rs£0.71; p=0.000).Conclusion: The results showed that equipping and modernization of rescue & relief roads posts can have a positive impact on reducing road accidents in different point of views of vehicle drivers in Ilam province.