Preparedness and management of emergency evacuation in natural disasters in the showcase of earthquakes

• Main Authors: M Ferudun Celikmen, Sina Ercan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2018-01-01
• Series: Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine
• Subjects: Earthquakes; Disasters; Crush injuries
• Online Access: http://www.apjtm.org/article.asp?issn=1995-7645;year=2018;volume=11;issue=13;spage=48;epage=48;aulast=Celikmen

Buildings that are used as residential areas by humans, mines they work in, vehicles they travel by or snowy mountains they go for sports can turn into deadly traps within seconds due to earthquakes, landslides, tsunamis, floods, bombings, traffic accidents or avalanches. Main survival factors in the post-disaster period are prevention injuries as well as detecting the location of the survivors and the rescued. The reality of the situation of persons who lost their lives in such traps, the severely injured, and the ones who survived must be analyzed. Rational prevention methods against possible crush injuries due to collapsing buildings have been considered in the light of the field and simulation experience we gained and suggestions have been presented to reduce mortality and morbidity. Our work has been conducted with the aid of medicine based on proof, appropriate observation as well as sampling and experimental methods. Developed countries with higher building standards and existence have their action plans to construct buildings with, so that those buildings would not collapse in case of earthquakes and similar disasters. Underdeveloped and developing countries on the other hand, usually adopt these plans exactly the same, without questioning against what and why these should be applied. As there are unlimited possibilities of travelling in todays world, it is not possible to estimate place, country or circumstances under which a person could experience a disaster. Therefore a global approach concerning worst case scenario led by earthquakes has been proposed considering different models of behavior in different countries and societies to increase the chance of survival to a maximum and to reduce injuries to a minimum level.