Stressors of Korean Disaster Relief Team Members during the Nepal Earthquake Dispatch: a Consensual Qualitative Research Analysis

We conducted in-depth interviews with 11 Korean Disaster Relief Team (KDRT) members about stress related to disaster relief work and analyzed the interview data using the Consensual Qualitative Research (CQR) method in order to evaluate difficulties in disaster relief work and to develop solutions to these problems in cooperation with related organizations. Results showed that members typically experienced stress related to untrained team members, ineffective cooperation, and the shock and aftermath of aftershock experiences. Stress tended to stem from several factors: difficulties related to cooperation with new team members, the frightening disaster experience, and the aftermath of the disaster. Other stressors included conflict with the control tower, diverse problems at the disaster relief work site, and environmental factors. The most common reason that members participated in KDRT work despite all the stressors and difficulties was pride about the kind of work it involved. Many subjects in this study suffered from various stresses after the relief work, but they had no other choice than to attempt to forget about their experiences over time. It is recommended that the mental health of disaster relief workers will improve through the further development of effective treatment and surveillance programs in the future.

Injury investigation of members of nation earthquake emergency relief team in Wenchuan earthquake / 中华急诊医学杂志

Objective To investigate the injury of members nation earthquake emergency relief team(NERT) in Wenchuan earthquake, and to explore right measures to protect themselves in emergency relief.Method The injury of 187 members of rescue team,who took emergency relief of"5·12" Wenchuan earthquake from 12 May to 29 May 2008, was registered according to International classification of Diseases (ICD). Results Medical staff have treated the members for 268 times, dennatogic and subcutaneous tissue disease accounted for 35.4%, masele,skeleton and connective tissue disease accounted for 26.9% ,disease of respiratory system ac-counted for 13.4% .More members responsible for search injured fixed medical aid post,the treatment times were 224,accounting for 91.0% times (91.0%). Conclusions Sufficient medical preparation,fixed medical aid post,psychological quide are very important for members of relief team.