Journal of Rescue and Relief
Year:2010 | Volume:2 | Issue:2|Papers Count:9

Introduction Psycho-social consequences and effects of natural disasters are important issues, but it has been paid little attention in our country. This research aims to study the effectiveness of psycho-social support intervention in Qazvin earthquake survivors in 2003.Methods In this research, about 389 of participated in meetings such as children and adults were assessed in order to determine the effectiveness of psycho-social support services for the injured before intervention and a year after providing services by 10 clinical psychologists. The control group was selected from unaffected areas in Qazvin province. The research was done by using different questionnaires such as 28 questions of public health; Rutter behavioral disorder; and questionnaire of stress disorder symptoms of Watson and Yule after disaster.Findings After receiving services, psycho-pathological disorders among people at age 15 or over were 33/5% (45% before intervention) in the experimental group and it was 23/1% (34/1% before intervention) in children (under the age of 15). Psychological support services could relieve significantly stress disorder symptoms after disasters in two groups.Conclusion Psycho-social support services to the injured can greatly minimize stress disorder symptoms after stressful disasters and psycho-pathological mental disorders among survivors and also prevent the prevalence of social problems in them.

Background Regarding the frequency of disasters and effective response to the first hours after occurrence, it is necessity to form rapid response teams in order to reduce casualties and property losses. This paper aims to provide a standard operational process for health & care rapid response teams in Iran.Methods In this applicable research, which was done by descriptive-comparative method, various countries were compared based on different factors such as activation process, training, structure, equipment and their functions during crisis.Findings All studied countries activated their own rapid response teams based on a predetermined standard process in response phase. These teams are working under a unique command reference. They already are selected and have changeable structure based on disasters. Also they received standard trainings continuously and provided an appropriate response to disasters based on their job description and modern equipment.Conclusion According to the research, some measures should be taken in order to decrease mortality and timely response to disasters as follows: to organize health rapid response teams in different levels of country; to establish a incident command system for guiding teams; to use local facilities with necessary equipment, and to define a clear job description with appropriate training for the selected individuals of these teams.

IntroductionCardiac pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) has an important role in preventing 25% of death especially out of hospital. This research aims to determine the success of Besat hospital CPR team with patients.Methods In this descriptive study, 372 patients with cardiopulmonary arrest get CPR were surveyed in health & educational center of Besat hospital in the first six months of 2000. Data was collected by using regulated forms for recording physicians and nurses' reports due to demographic and clinical patients' information.Results In this study, the results of total performed CPR were as follows: 34% initial successful, 66% unsuccessful and final success was only 11%.Conclusion The health & educational center of Besat hospital is a unique place regarding traumatic and non-traumatic patients and increased number of CPR in the province, therefore, CPR team training is given high priority.

Introduction Training, which is an appropriate guarantee of relief and humanitarian services, is one of the most effective ways to respond to natural disasters. It can improve performance and efficiency if there is a regular and precise education towards the real needs of crisis managers. This paper aims to study the effect of on the job training course of crisis management on mangers in Damavand city in disasters.Methods In this descriptive study, all mangers and coordinators of Damavand city in disasters (164) were surveyed in 2010. By using questionnaire and random sampling method, about 67 of participants were selected. (a=0/81) Findings The results were as: 37/2% very high level, 40/3% high and 22/4% average. The participants believed in enhancing managers' performance effectively by training.Conclusion The results show that the content of crisis management course harmonized with crisis mangers occupational needs and improve mangers efficiency.

Background Regarding the significant role of trained and skillful relief workers in reducing losses caused by disasters, it is important to improve training programs qualitatively and quantitatively. So, this paper aims to determine knowledge and attitudes of relief workers in relief & rescue bases (fixed and mobile) at Norouz in 2010.Methods In this descriptive-analytical study, 90 male relief workers of Red Crescent Society were selected at Norouz relief & rescue bases in Mazandaran province in 2010. Using a two-part questionnaire, some data was obtained as demographic information, knowledge and attitudes of relief workers.Findings According to the results: the workers age average was 23/9±5/1 years; the score average of general knowledge (from 20 points) was 17/6 ± 4/9; the score average of public knowledge was (20 points) and professional (10 points), 12/4 ± 3/6 and 5/3 ±1/8 respectively.Conclusion: Most relief workers (66/7%) had a moderate or very good knowledge and half of them had a very good attitude towards the whole training courses.

Background Most of Iranian populations, which are Muslim, attach great importance to their religious rituals in the natural unexpected disasters. Some groups of people paid more attention due to their religious commandments observation in disasters such as affected people, clergy and relief workers. This research aims to study the needed religious commandments for both groups in natural unexpected disasters.Methods In this cross-sectional study, it was assessed people's needs for religious issues and also relief workers and the clergy in the affected areas after earthquake and flood by using questionnaires and descriptive method.Findings According to the most participants, knowing about the necessary religious issues was evaluated and considered as a "very important" item in the natural unexpected disasters and they "deeply" care about its compiling.Conclusion Collecting and compiling juridical problems and religious issues required in natural unexpected disasters are essential therefore appropriate measures should be taken.

Introduction According to the research, providing the necessary resources exactly in order to establish emergency clinics requires attention to the frequency and the use of medical services during the establishment. This paper aims to study the frequency and causes of patients referring to the emergency clinic of Islamic Republic of Iran Red Crescent Society after earthquake of Haiti in 2010.Methods All patients referred to the emergency clinic were surveyed by using convenience and consecutive sampling in this sectional and observational study. Some data was recorded as demographic characteristics including gender & age and clinical data as clinical complaint s& type of prescribed medication.Results The results show that, the most frequent cause of Haitian patients' complaints (about 35/90%) in Iranian clinic was because of pain after earthquake. Most prescribed and frequent drugs were tranquilizers and antibiotics respectively.Conclusion Regarding the results, it must be cared for patients' pain and infection treatment and the contagious diseases after earthquake in emergency clinic. Therefore, the mentioned cases should be considered in the future clinics.

Evidence has shown that various groups of the society can play an important role in disaster management.Therefore, countries undergo less vulnerability that various groups of people participate actively in risk reduction activities directly and also display their capabilities to confront and respond to disasters.Learning these capabilities require more awareness and preparedness that results in people resilience to disasters.Hence, it should be identified the roles, needs, and attitudes of different groups in the society in order to facilitate the way for risk reduction initiatives, programs and methods development.In this regard, presence of miscellaneous groups of people especially women is need to cooperate in parallel with men to apply and implement policies and activities related to disasters.In this paper, women vulnerabilities as well as their capability to respond disasters has been taken into consideration respectively. At the end, some suggestions have been offered briefly for making women more c apable in risk reduction.